Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 1] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.

The story of Zisca.

IMmediatly after the death of Wenceslaus, there was a certaine noble man named Zisca, borne at Trosnouia, which from his youth vpwarde, was brought vp in the kyngs court, and had lost one of his eies in a battel, where as he had valiantly borne himselfe. This man beeing sore greeued for the death of I. Hus, and Hierome of Prage, minding to reuenge the iniuries which the Councell had done, greatly to the dishonour of y^e kingdom of Boheme, vpon their complices and adherēts: he gathered together a number of mē of warre, and subuerted the Monasteries and idolatrous temples, pulling downe, and breaking in peeces the images and idols, driuing away the Priestes and Monkes, which he saide were kept vp in their Cloy∣sters, like swine in their styes to be fatted. After this, hys army beeing increased, hauing gathered together aboute fortie thousande men, hee attempted to take the Castle of Uissegrade, which was but slenderly warded. Frō thence the said Zisca vnder the conduict of Coranda, wente spee∣dely vnto Pelzina, whereas he knew he had many frends of his faction, and tooke the towne into his power, fortifi∣eng the same very strongly, and those which tarried be∣hinde, tooke the Castle of Uissegrade.

Then the Queene Sophia beeing very carefull, sente letters and messengers vnto the Emperour Sigismund, and other nobles adioining vnto her, requiring aide and helpe: but the Emperour made preparation against the Turke, which had then lately wonne certaine Castels of him. Whereupon the Queene seeing all ayde so farre off, together with Zenko Warrenberge, gathered an host with the kings treasure, and fortified the Castle of Prage, and the lesser Citie which ioineth vnto the Castle, making gates and Towers of wood vpon the bridge, ouer the Riuer Multane, to stoppe that the Protestants shoulde haue no passage that way. Then it hapned that at the Ile of S. Benedict, one Peter Steremberge fought an equall or indifferent battaile with them.

In the meane time the number of the Protestantes bee∣ing increased in Prage, they fought for y^• bridge. In which battaile many were slaine on both parts, but at the length the Hussites wanne the bridge, and the neather part of les∣ser Prage, the Queenes part fleeing into the vpper parte thereof: whereas they turning againe fiersly, renued the battaile, and fought continually day and night by y^• space of fiue daies. Many were slaine on both parts, goodly buildings were rased, and the councell house, which was in a low place, was vtterly defaced and burned.

During the time of this troublous estate, the Ambassa∣dours of the Emperour Sigismund were come: whyche taking vpon them the rule and gouernāce of the Realme, made a truce or league with the Citie of Prage vnder this condition, that the Castle of Uissegrad beeing rendred, it should be lawful for thē to send Ambassadours to y^e Em∣perour Sigismund to intreat as touching their estate, and that Zisca should render Pelzina & Piesta, with the other forts which he had taken. These conditions thus agreed vpon and receiued, all the forreine Protestants departed out of the Citie, and the Senate of the Citie began to go∣uerne againe according to their accustomed manner, and all things were quieted. Howbeit, y^e Papists which were gone out of y^e Towne, durst not returne againe: but still looked for the Emperour, by whose presence they thought they should haue bene safe. But this their hope was fru∣strate by meanes of certaine letters which were sent from the Emperour, wherein it was written that he woulde shortly come and rule y^e kingdome, euen after the same or∣der and maner as his father Charles had done before him. Whereby the Protestants vnderstoode that their sect and Religion should be vtterly banished, which was not be∣gon during the raigne of the sayd Charles.

About Christmasse, the Emperour Sigismund came to Brunna a Citie of Morauia, and there he pardoned the Citizens of Prage, vnder condition that they woulde let downe the chaines and barres of the City, and receiue his rulers and magistrates. Wherunto the whole city obeied, and the Magistrates thereof lifting vp their handes vnto heauen, reioiced at the comming of the new king. But the Emperour turned another way, and wēt vnto Uratisla∣uia, the head city of Slesia, where as a little before, the cō∣munalty of the City had slaine in an insurrection, the ma∣gistrates, which his brother Wēceslaus had set in authori∣ty: the principals wherof he beheaded. The newes wherof when they were reported at Prage, the Citizēs being sea∣red by the example of the Vratislauians, distrusting their pardō, rebelled out of hand, and hauing obteined Cencho on their part, which had the gouernaunce of the Castle of Prage, they sent letters into all the Realme, that no man should suffer y^e Emperour to enter, which was an enemie vnto Boheme, and sought nothing else, but to destroy the kingdome: which also bound the aunciēt citie of the Pru∣tenitants, vnto order by pledges, and put the Marques of Brandenburge from the Bohemian crowne: and had not onely suffered Iohn Hus & Hierome of Prage to be bur∣ned at y^e Councel of Constance, but also procured the same, & with all his endeuour did impugne the doctrine & faith which they taught and folowed. Whilest these things wee thus done. Zisca hauing giuen ouer Pelzina by cōpositiō, was twise assaulted by his enemies, but through policy he was alwaies victor. The places where they sought, were

rough and vnknowne, his enimies were on horsebacke, and all his souldiours on foote, neither could there be any battaile fought, but on foote. Whereupon, when his ene∣mies were alighted from their horses. Zisca commaunded the women which customably followed the host, to cast their kerchieffes vpon the ground, wherein the horsemen being entangled by their spurres, were slaine before they could vnlose their feete.

After this, he went vnto Ausca, a towne situate vpon the Riuer Lusinitius, out of which towne Procopius and Ulricius, two brethren Papists, had castout many Prote∣stants. This Towne Zisca tooke by force of armes the first night of Lent, rased it, and set it on fire. He also tooke the Castle of Litius, which was a mile off, whether as Ulricius was fled, and put Ulricius and all his familie to the sword, sauing one only.

Then, forsomuch as he had no walled or fensed towne to inhabite, he chose out a certaine place vpon the same ri∣uer, which was fensed by nature, about eight miles from the Citie of Ausca. This place he cōpassed in with walles, and commaunded euery man to build them houses, where they had pitched their tents, and named this City Tha∣bor, and the inhabitants his companions Thaborites, bi∣cause their Citie, by all like, was builded vpon the top of some hill or mount. This Citie, albeit that it was sensed with high rockes and cleaues, yet was it compassed with a wall and vainnure, and the riuer Lusinitius fenseth a great part of the towne, the rest is compassed in wyth a great brooke, the which running straight into the riuer Lusinitius, is stopped by a great rocke, and driuen backe towards the right hand, all the length of the Citie, and at the further end it ioineth with the great riuer. The way vnto it by land is scarse thirtie foote broade, for it is almost an Iland. In this place there was a deepe ditch cast, and a triple wall made, of such thicknes, y^t it could not be broken with any engine. The wall was full of towers & sorts set in their cōuenient & meete places. Zisca was the firste that builded the Castle, and those that came after him, fortified it, euery man according to his owne deuise. At that time the Thaborites had no horsemen amongst them, vntill such time as Nicholas, maister of y^e mint (whom the Em∣perour had sent into Bohemia with a M. horsemen to set things in order, & to withstand the Thaborites lodging all night in a village named Uogize) was surprised by Zisca comming vpon him sodenly in y^e night, taking away all his horse and armour, & setting fire vpon the village. Then Zisca taught his souldiours to mount on horseback, to leape, to runne, to turne, to cast in a ring, so that after this heuener led army without his wings of horsemen.

In this meane time Sigismundus the Emperour ga∣thering together, y^e nobles of Slesia, entred into Boheme, and went vnto Grecium, and frō thence with a great ar∣my vnto Cuthna, alluring Cencho with many great and large promises, to render vp y^e Castle of Prage vnto him, and there placed himselfe to annoy the towne. Thus Cen∣cho infamed with double treason, returned home. The Ci∣tizens of Prage sent for Zisca, who speding himselfe the∣ther with the Thaborites, receiued the citie vnder his go∣uernance. In the Bohemiās host there was but only two Barons, Hilco Crussina of Liturburge, and Hilco of Wal∣destene, with a few other nobles. All the residue were of y^e common people. They went about first to subdue the Ca∣stell, which was by nature very strongly fensed, and could not be won by no other meanes then with famine: wher∣upon all y^e passages were stopped, that no vittailes should be carried in. But the Emperour opened the passages by dint of sword, & when he had geuen vnto them which were besieged, all things necessary, hauing sente for ayde out of the Empire, he determined shortly after to besiege the Ci∣tie. There was in the Emperours campe the Dukes of Saxon, the Marqueses of Brandenburge, and hys sonne in law Albert of Austrich. The Citie was assaulted by the space of vi. weekes. The Emperor Sigismūd was crow∣ned in the Metropolitane house in the Castle, Conradus the Archbishop solemnising the ceremonies of the corona∣tion. The city was straightly besieged. In the meane time the Captaines Rosenses & Chragery, which had takē the tentes of the Thaborites, being ouercome in battaile by Nicholas Husse, whome Zisca had sent with parte of hys power for that purpose, were driuen out of their tentes, and Gretium the Queenes Citie was also taken.

There is also aboue the Towne of Prage a high hill, which is called Uidechon. On this hill had Zisca strongly planted a garrison, that his enemies should not possesse it, with whome the Marques of Misnia skirmishing, lost a great part of his souldiours. For when as the Misnians had gotten the top of the hill, being driuen back into a cor∣ner, which was broken & steepe, and fiersly set vpon, whē as they could no longer withstād the violent force of their enimies, some of them were slaine, and some falling head∣long from the hill, were destroied. Whereupon the Empe∣rour Sigismund raising his seege, departed vnto Cuthua and Zisca with his company departed vnto Thabor, and subdued many places: amōgst which he subuerted a town pertaining to the captaine of Uisgrade. During this tyme the Castell of Uisgrade was strongly besieged, whereas, when other vittailes wāted, they were compelled to eate horse flesh. Last of all, except the Emperour did aide them by a certaine daye, they promised to yeld it vp, but vnder this condition, that if the Emperour did come, they with∣in the Castle should be no more molested.

The Emperour was present before the day, but beeyng ignorant of the truce taken, entring into a straight vnder∣neath the Castle, was sodenly set vpon by the souldiours of Prage, where he had a great ouerthrow, and so leauing his purpose vnperformed, returned backe againe. There were slaine in that conflict xiiij. noble men of the Moraui∣ans, and of the Hungarians, & other a great number. The Castle was deliuered vp vnto them. Whilest these things were in doing, Zisca toke Boslaus a captaine, which was surnamed Cigneus, by force, in a very strōg towne of his, and brought him vnto his religion. Who a few yeares af∣ter, leading the protestants host in Austria, was woun∣ded before Rhetium, and died. Ther were in the territorie of Pelsina many monasteries, of y^e which Zisca subuerted and burned fiue. And forsomuch as y^e monastery of Saint Clare was the strongest, there he pitched himselfe.

Thether also came the Emperour with his army: but when Zisca brought forth his power against him, he most cowardly fled, and not lōg after, he departed and left Bo∣heme. Then Zisca went with his army vnto Pelzina: but forsomuch as hee sawe the Citie so fenced, that hee was in doubt of winning the same, he went from thence to Com∣mitauia a famous Citie, the which he tooke by force, bur∣ning all the Priests therein.

Afterward, when as he lay before the towne of Raby, and strongly besieged the same, he was stricken wyth a shaft in the eye, hauing but that one before to see withall. From thence, hee was carried to Prage to Phisicians, whereas he being cured of his wound, and his life saued, yet he lost his sight, and for all that, he woulde not forsake his army, but still tooke the charge of them.

After this, the garrisons of Prage went vnto Uarona, where as there was a great garison of the Emperours, & tooke it by force, many being slaine of eyther parte. They also tooke the towne of Broda in Germany, and slue the garrison, and afterward tooke Cuthna and many other ci∣ties by composition. Further, when as they ledde theyr army vnto a town called Pons, which is inhabited by the Misnians, the Saxons meeting thē by the way, because they durst not ioine battaile, they returned backe. After all this, y^e Emperour appointed the Princes electours a day, that at Bartilmewtide, they should with their armie inuade the Weast part of Boheme, and he with an host of Hungarians would enter on the East part. There came vnto his ayde the Archbishop of Mentz, the countie Pal∣latine of Rheine, the Dukes of Saxon, the Marques of Brandenburge, & many other Bishops out of Almaine: all the rest sente their aydes. They encamped before the towne of Sozius, a strong & well fenced place, which they could by no meanes subdue. The countrey was spoiled & wasted round about, and the siege continued vntill y^e feast of S. Galle. Then it was broken vp because the Empe∣rour was not come at his day appointed, but he hauyng gathered together a great army of the Hungarians, and West Morauians, about Christmas entred into Boheme, and tooke certaine townes by force, and Cuthna was yel∣ded vnto him. But when Zisca (although he was blinde) came towards him)and set vpon him, he being afcard, & many of his nobles slaine, fled. But first he burned Cuth∣na, which the Thaborites, by meanes of the siluer mines, called the powch of Antichrist. Zisca pursuing the Empe∣rour a dayes iourney, got great & rich spoyle, and taking the towne of Broda by force, set it on fire: the which after∣ward almost by the space of xiiij. yeares, remained disin∣habited. The Emperour passed by a bridge ouer the riuer of Iglaria. And Piso a Florentine, which had brought xv. M. horsemen out of Hungary to these warres, passed ouer the Ise, the which by the multitude & number of his horsemen being broke, deuoured & destroied a great num∣ber. Zisca hauing obteined this victory, would not suffer any image or idoll to be in the Churches, neither thought it to be borne withall, that Priests shoulde minister wyth copes or vestiments: for the which cause he was much the

more enuied amongst the states of Boheme. And the Cō∣suls of Prage beeing agreeued at the insolencie of Iohn Premonstratensis, called him and nine other of his adhe∣rents, whome they supposed to be the principals of thys faction, into the Councell house, as though they woulde conferre with them as touching the common wealth: and when they were come in, they slew them, and afterwarde departed home euery man to his owne house, thinking the Citie had bene quiet, as though nothing had bin done: But their seruaunts beeing not circumspect inough, wa∣shing downe the court or yarde, washed out also the bloud of those that were slaine, through the sinkes or canels: the which being once seene, the people vnderstood what was done. By and by there was a great tumult: the Councell house was straightway ouerthrowne, and eleuen of the principall Citizens, whiche were thought to be the au∣thours thereof, were slaine, and diuers houses spoiled.

About the same time, the Castell of Purgell, wherein the Emperour had left a small garrison (whether as also many Papistes with their wiues and children were fled) was thorough negligēce burned, and those which escaped out of the fire, went vnto Pelsina. After this, diuers of the Bohemian Captaines, and y^e Senate of Prage, sent Am∣bassadours to Uitolde Duke of Lituania, and made hym their king. This did Zisca and his adherentes gainesay. This Untold sent Sigismūd Coributus, with two thou∣sand horsemen into Boheme, who was honourably recei∣ued of the inhabitants of Prage. At his comming they de∣termined to lay siege vnto a Castle situate vppon a hill, which was called Charles stone.

Heere Sigismundus had left for a garrison foure Cen∣turions of souldiours. The tentes were pitched in ii. pla∣ces. The siege continued vi. moneths, and y^e assault neuer ceased day and night. Fiue great flyngs threw continually great stones ouer y^e walles, and about two thousand ves∣sels, tubbs, or baskets, filled with dead carcases and other excrements, were cast in amongest those which were be∣sieged: whiche thing did so infect them with stench, that their teeth did either fall out or were all lose. Notwithstā∣ding they bare it out with stout courage, & continued their fight vntill the Winter, hauing priuily receiued medicine out of Prage, to fasten their teeth againe.

In the meane time Fridericke the elder, prince of Brā∣denburge entring into Boheme with a great power, cau∣sed them of Prage to raise the siege. And Uitoldus at the request of Uladislaus king of Pole, which had talked with the Emperour in the borders of Hungary, called Coribu∣tus his vncle with his whole army out of Boheme. Wherupon y^e Emperour supposed y^t the Protestāts being destitute of foreine aid, would y^e sooner do his commande∣ment: but he was farre deceiued therein, for they leading their armies out of Boheme, subdued y^e borderers there∣upon adioining. It is also reported y^t Zisca went into Au∣strich, and whē as the husbandinē of the countrey had ca∣ried away a great number of their cattell by water into an Isly of the riuer called Danubius, and by chaunce had left certaine values and swine in their Uillages behind them: Zisca draue them vnto the riuer side, and kept thē there so long, beating them, and causing thē to roare out and cry, vntill that the cattell feeding in the Iland, hearing y^e low∣ing and grunting of the cattell on the otherside the water, for the desire of their like, did swimme ouer the riuer: by the meanes where of, he got and draue away a great booty.

About the same time the Emperour Sigismūdus gaue vnto his sonne in law Albert Duke of Austrich, the coun∣trey of Morauia, because it should not want a ruler. At the same time also Ericius king of Denmarke, & Peter In∣stant, brother to y^e king of Portingal and father of Iames, Cardinall of S. Eustachius, came vnto y^• Emperour, be∣ing both very expert men in the affaires of warre: which did augment y^e Emperours host with their aid and pow∣er. Wherupon, they straightway pitched their camp before Lutemperge, a towne of Morauia, and continued the siege by the space of ii. moneths. There was at that time a cer∣taine Knight at Prage surnamed Aqua, which was very rich and of great authority. This mā, forsomuch as he had no child of his owne, adopted vnto him his sisters sonne, named Procopius: whom when he was of meane stature and age, he caried with him into France, Spayne, and I∣taly, and vnto Ierusalem, and at his returne caused hym to be made Priest. This man when the Gospell began to flourish in Boheme, tooke part with Zisca, and for somuch as he was strong and valiant, and also painefull, he was greatly esteemed.

This Procopius for his valiaunt actes, was afterward called Procopius Magnus, and had committed vnto him the whole charge of the prouince of Morauia, and the defence of the Lutemperges: who receiuing a great power by force (maugre all the whole power which lay in the siege) carried vittailes into the towne which was besieged, and so did frustrate the Emperours siege. The Emperour be∣fore this had deliuered vnto the Marquesses of Misnia the bridge and towne of Ausca, vpon the riuer of Albis, that they should fortifie them with their garrisons. Wher∣upon Zisca besieged Ausca, and Fridericke the Marquesse of Misnia, with his brother the Lantzgraue of Turyng, gathering together a greate army out of Saxonia, Tu∣ring, Misnia, and both the Lusaces, determined to rescue and ayde those which were besieged.

There was a great battaile fought before the Citie, and the victory depēded long vncertaine, but at last it fel on the Protestantes part. There were slaine in that battaile, the Burgraues of Misnia or Chyrpogenses, the Barons of Glychen, and many other nobles, beside ix. thousand cō∣mon souldiours, and the Towne of Ausca was taken and vtterly rased.

At the last, dissention rising betweene Zisca and them of Prage, they of Prage prepared an army against him, wher with he perceiuing himselfe ouermatched, fled vnto y^e Ri∣uer of Albis and was almost takē, but that he had passage through the town of Poggiebras, but they of Prage pur∣suing the taile of y^• battaile, slue many of his Thaborites. At the length they came vnto certaine hils whereas Zisca going into the valley, knowing the straights of the place, that his enimies could not spread their army, he comman∣ded his standerd to stand still, and exhorting and encoura∣ging his souldiours, he gaue them battaile.

This battaile was very fierce and cruell: but Zisca ha∣uing the vpper hande, slue 3000. of them of Prage, and put the rest to flight, and straightwaies tooke the Citie of Cuthna by force (which they of Prage had repaired) and set it on fire: then withall speed he went with his army to besiege Prage, and incamped within a bowe shoote of the towne. There wer many both in the City, and also in his host which grudged sore at y^• siege: some accusing Zisca, othersome them of Prage. There was great tumultes in the campe, y^e souldiours saieng that it was not reasonable, that the City should be suppressed, which was both the head of the kingdome, and did not dissent frō them in opi∣nion: saieng that y^e Bohemians power would soone decay, if their enimies should know y^t they were deuided within themselues: also that they had sufficient warres agaynst the Emperour, and that it was but a foolish deuise to moue warres amongst themselues. This talke came vnto the eare of Zisca, who calling together his armie, standyng vpon a place to be heard, spake these words.

BRethren be yee not agreeued against me, neither accuse hym which hath sought your health and sauegard. The victories which ye haue obteined vnder my conduict, are yet fresh in me∣morie, neither haue I broughte you at anye time vnto any place, from whence you haue not come victours. You are become fa∣mous and rich, and I for your sake haue lost my sight, and dwell in darkenesse Nothing haue I gotten by all these fortunate bat∣tailes, but only a vaine name. For you haue I fought, and for you haue I vanquished, neither do I repente me of my trauailes, ney∣ther is my blindnesse greeuous vnto me, but onely that I can not prouide for you, according to my accustomed manner: Neither do I persecute them of Prage for mine owne cause, for it is your bloud that they thirst and seeke for, and not mine. It were but small pleasure for them to destroy me being now an old man and blind: it is your valiantnesse and stoute stomackes which they feare. Either must you or they perish: who whilest they seeme to lye in wait for me, do seeke after your liues. You must rather feare ciuill warres then foreine, and ciuill sedition ought first to be auoided. We will subdue Prage, and banish the seditious Citi∣zens, before the Emperour shall haue any newes of this sedition. And then hauing but a few of his faction left, we may wyth the lesse feare looke for it: better then if these doubtfull Citizens of Prage were still in our campe. But because ye shall accuse me no more, I geue you free libertie to do what you will. If it please you to suffer them of prage to liue in quietnesse, I will not be against it, so that there be no treason wrought. If you determine to haue warre, I am also readie. Looke which part you will decline vnto, Zisca will be your ayde and helper.

When he had spoken these words, the souldiours minds were changed, and wholly determined to make wars, so that they ran by and by to take vp their armour and wea∣pon, to run vnto the walles to prouoke their enemies to fight for the gates of the citie. Zisca in the meane time pre∣pared all things ready for the assault. There is a little from Pelsina acertain vilage named Rochezana. In this place, there was a child borne of poore and base parētage, whose

name was Iohn: he came vnto Prage, and got his liuing there by begging, and learned Grammer & Logick. When he came to mās state, he became y^• Scholemaster of a noble mans child, and for so much as he was of an excellent wit and ready toung, he was receiued into the Colledge of the poore, and last of all being made Priest, he began to preach the word of God to the Citizēs of Prage, and was named Iohannes de Rochezana, by the name of the Towne where he was borne. This mā grew to be of great name and au∣thoritie in the towne of Prage. Wherupon when as Zisca besieged Prage, he by the consent of the Citizēs went out into the camp, and reconciled Zisca againe vnto the Citie.

When as the Emperour perceiued that all things came to passe according vnto Zisca his will and minde, and that vpon him alone the whole state of Boheme did depend, he sought priuie meanes to recōcile and get Zisca into his fa∣uour, promising him y^e gouernance of the whole kingdom, the guiding of all his hostes & armies, and great yearely reuenues, if he would proclaime him King, and cause the Cities to be sworne vnto him. Upō which cōditions, whē as Zisca for the performance of the couenants went vnto the Emperour being on his iourney at the Castle of Pris∣couia, he was stricken with sicknesse and died.

It is reported, that when he was demaunded beyng sicke, in what place he would be buried, he commaunded the skinne to be pulled off from his dead carkase, and the flesh to bee cast vnto the foules and beastes, and that a drumme should be made of his skinne, which they should vse in their battailes, affirming, that as soone as their eni∣mies should heare the sound of that drumme, they would not abide, but take their flight. The Thaborites despising all other Images, yet set vp the Picture of Zisca ouer the gates of the Citie.

¶ The Epitaphe of Iohn Zisca, the valiant Captaine of the Bohemians.

I Iohn Zisca, not inferiour to any Emperour or Captain in warlike policie, a seueare punisher of the pride and a∣uarice of the Clergy, and a defender of my countrey, do lie heere. That which Appius Claudius by geuing good coun∣sell, and M. Furius Camillus by valiantnesse did for the Ro∣maines: the same I being blinde, haue done for my Bohe∣mians. I neuer slacked oportunitie of battaile, neither did fortune at any time faile me. I being blinde, did foresee all oportunitie of well ordering or doing my businesse. Ele∣uen times in ioining battaile, I went victour out of the field. I seemed to haue worthely defended the cause of the miserable and hungry, against the delicate, fatte, and glo∣tonous Priests, and for that cause to haue receiued help at the hande of God. If their enuy had not let it, without doubt I had deserued to be numbred amongst the most fa∣mous men. Notwithstanding my bones lye heere in this halowed place, euen in despite of the Pope.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. ¶

Iohn Zisca a Bohemian, enemy to all wicked and couetous Priestes, but with a godly zeale.

And thus haue you the actes and doings of this worthy Zisca, and other Bohemians, which for the more credite we haue drawne out of Aeneas Syluius, onely his rayling tearmes excepted, which we haue heere suppressed.

All this while the Emperour with the whole power of the Germaines, were not so busie on y^e one side, but Mar∣tin the Pope was as much occupied on the other side: who about the same time directed downe a terrible Bull, full of all poison to all Byshops and Archbyshops, agaynst all such as tooke any part or side with Wickleffe, Iohn Hus, Hierome, or with their doctrine and opinions. The copie of which Bull, which I found in an olde written monu∣ment, I wish the reader throughly to peruse, wherein he shall see the Pope to poure out at once all his poison.

The Bull of Pope Martine directed foorth a∣gainst the followers of Iohn Wickliffe of Eng∣land, of Iohn Husse of Boheme, and Hierome of Prage.

MArtine Bishop, the seruant of Gods seruants, to our reuerend brethren the Archbishops of Salzeburgen, Gueznen, and Pragē, & to the Bishops of Dlumcen, Lu∣thomuslen, Bambergen, Misnen, Patauiē, Uratislauien, Ratisponen. Cra. ouien, Poznamen, and Nitrien, & also to our beloued children the Inquisitours appointed of the Prelates aboue recited, or where else soeuer, vnto whome these present letters shall come, greeting, and Apostolicall benediction. Amongst all other pastorall cares where with we are oppressed, this chefly and specially doth inforce vs, that heretikes with their false doctrine and errours, being vtterly expulsed from amōgst the cōpany of Christen mē, and rooted out (so farre forth as God will make vs able to do) the right and Catholike faith may remaine sound and vndefiled: and that all Christian people, immoueable and iuiolate, may stande and abide in the sinceritie of the same fayth, the whole vayle of obscuritie being remoued. But lately in diuers places of y^e world, but especially in Bohe∣mia, and the Dukedome of Morauia, and in the straights adioining thereunto, certaine Archheretickes haue risen and sprong vp, not against one only, but against diuers & sundry documēts of the Catholike faith, being landlopers schismatikes, and seditious persons, fraught with diuelish pride & Woluish madnes, deceiued by the subtlety of Sa∣than, and frō one euill vanity brought to a worse. Who al∣though they rose vp & sprang in diuers parts of y^e world, yet agreed they all in one, hauing their tailes as it were knit together: to wit, Iohn Wickliffe of England, I. Hus of Bohemia, & Hierome of Prage of dammable memorie, who drew with thē no small nūber to miserable ruine and infidelitie. For when as those & such like pestiferous per∣sons did in y^e beginning of their poisoned doctrine, obsti∣nately sow and spread abroad peruerse & false opinions, y^e prelates who had the regiment & execution of the iudiciall power, like dumme dogs, not able to barke, neither yet reuenging speedely with the Apostle, all such disobediēce, nor regarding corporally to cast out of the lords house (as they were enioined by y^e canons) those subtill and pestilēt Archheretickes, and their Woluish fury and cruelty, with all expedition, but suffering their false and pernicious do∣ctrine negligētly, by their ouerlong delaies, to growe and waxe strōg: a great multitude of people in stead of true do∣ctrine receiued those things, which they did lōg falsly, per∣nitiously and damnably sow among them, and geuing credite vnto them, fell from the right faith, and are in∣tangled (the more pitie) in the foule errors of Paganisme.

In so much, that those Archheretickes, and suche as spring of them, haue infected the Catholicke flock of Christ in diuers climates of the world and parts bordering vpon the same, and haue caused them to putrifie in the filthie dunghill of their lies. Wherefore the generall Synode of Constance, was compelled with Sainct Augustine to ex∣claime against so great and ruinous a plague of faythfull men, and of the sound and true faith it selfe, saieng: what shall the Soueraigne medicine of the Church do, wyth motherly loue seeking the health of hir sheepe, chasing as it were, amongst a companie of men franticke, and hauing the disease of the Lethargie? What? shall she desist and leaue off hir good purpose? No not so. But rather let hir, if there be no remedie, be sharpe to both these sorts, which are the greenous enemies of her wombe. For the Phisi∣tion is sharpe vnto the man bestraught and raging in his frensie, and yet is he a father to his owne rude and vn∣manerly sonne, in binding the one, in beating the other, by shewing therein his great loue vnto them both. But if they be negligent, and suffer them to perish (sayth Au∣gustine) this mansuetude is rather to be supposed false crueltie.

And therefore the foresaide Synode, to the glory of al∣mighty God, and preseruation of his catholicke faith, and augmenting of Christian religion, and for the saluation of mens soules: hath corporally reiected and cast forth of the houshold of God, the foresaid I. Wicklieffe, I. Hus, and Ierome: who amongst other things, did beleeue, preach, teach, and maintaine of the Sacrament of the aultar, and other sacramēts of the church & articles of the faith, cōtra∣ry to that y^e holy Church of Rome beleueth, holdeth, prea∣cheth and teacheth, & haue presumed obstinately to preach, teach, hold, and beleue many other moe, to the damnation of themselues and of others: and the sayde Synode hath separated the same, as obstinate and malipert heretickes from the Communion of the faithfull people, and haue declared them to be spiritually throwne forth: and many other things both wholesome & profitable hath the same Councell as touching the premisses, stablished and de∣creed, whereby they, which by the meanes of those Arch∣heretikes, and by their false doctrine, haue spiritually de∣parted from the Lords house, may by the canonicall rules be reduced to the straight path of truth and veritie.

And moreouer (as we to our great griefe do heare) not only in y^e kingdome of Bohemia, and Dukedome of Mo∣rauia and other places aboue recited, but also in certaine parts and prouinces neere adioining and bordering vpon

the same, there be many other of y^e secretaries and follow∣ers of the foresayd Archheritickes and hereticall opinions casting behind their backes as well the feare of God, as y^e shame of the world, neither receiuing fruit of conuersion & repentaunce by the miserable destruction of the foresayde Iohn Hus and Hierome, but as men drowned in the dun¦geon of their sinnes, cease not to blaspheme the Lord God taking his name in vayne (whose minds the father of lies hath damnably blinded) and do read and study the foresaid bookes or workes, contayning heresies & erroures, being lately by the foresayd Synode condēned to be burned: also to the perill of themselues and many other simple men, & against the statutes, decrees, and ordinaunces in the Sy∣node aforesayd, and the Canonicall sanctions, do presume to preach & teach the same, to the great perill of soules, the derogation of the Catholicke fayth, and sclaunder of many other besides. We therfore considering that errour, when it is not relisted, seemeth to be allowed and liked, and hauing a desire to resist such euill and pernicious errours, and vt∣terly roote them out from amongst the companie of fayth∣full christians, especially frō the afore recited places of Bo∣hemia, Morauia, and other straights and Ilands ioyning and bordering vpon the same, least they shold stretch out & enlarge their ••••••ites: we will and commaund your discre∣tions by our letters Apostolicall, the holy Councell of Cō∣stance approuing and allowing the same, that you that are Archbishops, Bishops, and other of the clergy, and euery one of you by himself or by an other or others, being graue and fit persons to haue spirituall iurisdiction: do see that al and singuler persons, of what dignitie, office, preeminence state, or conditiō so euer they be, and by what name soeuer they are knowne, which shall presume otherwise to teache preach, or obserue, touching the most high and excelent, the most wholesome and superadmirable Sacrament of the bloud of our Lorde Iesus Christe, or els of the Sacra∣ment of Baptisme, confession of sinnes, penaunce for sins and extreme vnction, or els of any other Sacramentes of the Church, & articles of the faith, then that, which y^e right holy & vniuersall church of Rome doth hold, teach, preach, & obserue: or els y^t shall presume obstinately by any wayes or meanes, priuily, or apertly, to hold, beleue, and teach the Articles, bookes, or doctrine of the foresayd Archhereticks Iohn Wickleffe, Iohn Hus, & Hieronimus of Prage, be∣ing by the foresayd Synode of Constaunce with theyr au∣thours (as is sayd) damned and condemned, or dare pre∣sume publikly or priuily to allow or commend in any wise y^e death and end of y^e said archheretiks, or of any other their receiuers, ayders and fauourers, in the fauour or suppor∣tation of the foresayd errors, as also their beleuers and ad∣herentes: that then as before, you see and cause them and e¦uery of them to be most seuerly punished, & that you iudge and geue sentence vpon them as hereticks, and that as ar∣rant hereticks you leaue them to the secular court or pow∣er. Let the receiuers also, and fauourers and defenders of such most pestiferous persons, notw^tstanding they neyther beleue, fauour, nor haue deuotion, towardes their errors but happely shal receaue or entertain such pestiferous per∣sons, because of carnall affection, or friendly loue, besides y^e punishmene due vnto thē by both lawes, ouer and aboue the same punishment, by competent iudges be so afflicted, & for so haynous actes of theirs, with so seuere payn & pu∣nishment excruciated, that the same may be to other in like case offending, an example of terrour: that at the least, those whome the feare of God by no meanes may reuoke from such euill doing, yet the seueritie of this our discipline may force and constrayne.

As touching the third sort, which shalbe any maner of wayes infected with this damnable sect, and shall after cōpetent admonition repēt and amend themselues of such errours and sectes aforesayd, and will returne agayn into the lap and vnitie of our holy mother the Churche, & fully acknowledge and confesse the Catholike fayth: towardes them let the seueritie of iustice, as the quallitie of the facte shall require, be somewhat tempered with a tast of mercy.

And furthermore, we will and command, that by thys our authoritie Apostolicall, ye exhort and admonish al the professours of the catholicke fayth, as Emperours, kings, Dukes, Princes, Marquesses, Earles, Barons, Knights and other Magistrates, Rectors, Consuls, Proconsuls, Shires, Countries and Uniuersities of the kingdomes, Prouinces, Cities, otwnes, Castles, villages, their lands & other places, & al other executing tēporal iurisdiction ac∣cording to the form & exigence of the law, y^t they expell out of their kingdoms, prouincies, Cities, towns, castles, vil∣lages & lands, & other places, al & all maner of suche here∣tickes, according to the effect and tenour of the Councell of Laterane, beginning, Sicut ait ecclesia. &c. y^t those whom publikely and manifestly by the euidence of their deedes, shall be knowne to be such as like sicke and scabed sheepe infect the Lords flock, they expell and banish till such tyme as from vs or you or els other ecclesiasticall iudges or In∣quisitours holding the fayth and communion of the holye church of Rome, they shall receiue other order and coun∣termaund: and that they suffer no such within theyr shyres and circuites, to preach or to keepe either house or familye either yet to vse any handicrafte or occupations or other trades of merchaundise, or els to solace themselues anye wayes, or frequent the company of Christen men.

And furthermore if suche publike and knowne here∣tiques shall chaunce to dye (although not so denounced by the Church) yet in this so great a crime, let hym and them want Christian buriall, and let no offeringes or oblations be made for them nor receiued. Hys goodes and substance also frō y^e time of his death, according to y^e Canonical sanc∣tions being confiscate, let no such enioy them to whō they appertayne, till that by the ecclesiasticall iudges hauing po¦wer and authoritie in this behalfe, sentence vpon that his or their crime of heresie, be declared, and promulgate, & let such owners as be found suspect or noted with anye suche suspition of heresie, before a competent and ecclesiasticall iudge, according to the consideration and exigence of that suspicion, and according to the quallitie of the person, by y^e arbitrement of such a iudge: shew and declare hys proper & own innocēcy with deuotion as beseemeth in that behalf, And if in hys purgation, being Canonically interdicted, he do fayle, or be not able Canonically to make his pur∣gation, or that he refuse to take hys othe by damnable ob∣stinacie, to make suche purgation: then let him be con∣demned as an hereticke. But such as thorough negligence or thorough slothfulnes, shall omit to shew their sayd inno¦cencie and to make such purgation, let them be excommu∣nicate, and so long put out from the company of Christen men, til y^t they shall make condigne satisfactiō: so that if by the space of one whole yeare they shall remayne in such ex∣communication, then let them as heretickes be condēned.

And further, if any shalbe found culpable in any point of the foresayd pestiferous doctrine of the Archheretickes aforesayd, or in any Article thereof, whether it be by the re∣porte of the seditious, or els well disposed: let them yet be punished, according to the Canons. If onely through infa¦my and suspition of the foresaid Articles or any of them, a∣ny man shalbe found suspect, & in his purgation Canoni∣call for this thing being interdicted, shall fayle: let hym be accompted as a man conuict, & as a conuict person by the Canons let him be punished.

And furthermore we innouating and putting in exe∣cution the Canon of our predecessour of happy memory pope Boniface the 8. which beginneth thus: Vt inquisitionis negocium. &c. In exhorting wise require and also com∣maund all temporall potentates, Lordes & Iudges afore recited, by whatsoeuer dignities, offices, and names they are knowen: that as they desire to be had, estemed, & coun∣ted for the faythfull members and children of the Church, and do reioyce in the name of Christ: so in likewise for the defēce of the same faith, they wil obey, intēd, giue their ayd, and fauorable help, to you that are Archbishops, Bi∣shops, and Ecclesiastical men, inquisitours of al hereticall prauitie, and other Iudges and Ecclesiasticall persons by you hereunto, as aforesayd, appoynted (holdyng the fayth and communiō of our holy mother the church) for the sear∣ching out, taking, & safe custody, of all the foresayde here∣tickes, their beleuers, their fauorers, their receiuers, and their defenders, when so euer they shalbe therunto of them required.

And that they bring and cause to be brought (al delay set aparte) the foresayde pestiferous persons so seeking to de∣stroy others with them, into suche safe keeping and pry∣sons, as by you the Archbyshops, Byshops, Clergie, and Inquisitors aforesaid, are to be appointed, or els vnto such other place or places, as eyther you or they shal commaūd within any of their dominions, gouernements, and recto∣ries, where they by catholicke men, that is, by you the Archbishops, byshops, the Clergy, and inquisitours, or a∣ny other that shalbe by you appointed, or are already ap∣pointed by any of you, may be holden and kept in safe ke∣ping, putting them in fetters, shackles, boltes, and mana∣cles of yrō vnder most straight custody for escaping away, tyll suche tyme as all that busines which belongeth vnto them, be by the iudgement of the church finished and determined, and that of suche heresie, by a competent eccle∣siasticall iudge (which firmely holdeth the faith and com∣muniō of the said holy church of Rome) they be cōdemned.

The residue, let the foresayde temporall Lordes, Rec∣tours, Iudges, or other their officers and Pursinauntes,

take amongest them, with condigne deathes without anye delay to punish. But fearing least to the preiudice & sclan∣der of the foresayd catholicke fayth and religion, thorough the pretext of ignoraunce, any man herein shoulde be cir∣cumuented, or that any subtile and craftie men should vn∣der the vayle of friuolous excuse, cloke and dissēble in thys matter, and that as touching the cōuincing or apprehen∣ding of the foresaid hereticks, their receiuours & defēdors, fauourers, beleeuers and adherentes, and also of suche as are suspect of heresie, and with suche like peruerse doctrine many wise spotted, we might geue more perfect instructi∣on: Therfore as well to the kingdom of Bohemia & parts neare adioining to the same as all other where this super∣stitious doctrine first began to spread, we haue thought it good to send the articles here vnder written concerning y^• secte of those Archheretickes, for the better direction of the foresayd Catholicke fayth.

Touching which articles, by vertue of holy obedience we charge and commaund you and all other Archbishops and Bishops, all maner of commissaries and inquisitours that euery of them within the Dioces and limites of theyr iurisdiction, & also in y^e foresaid kingdom & dukedome and places neare adioyning, although the same places be be∣yond the same their iurisdiction: in the fauour of the catho∣licke faith, do geue most dilligent and vigilant care about the extirpation and correction of those erroures, archhere∣sies, and most pestiferous sect aforesayd: and also that they compell all diffamed persons and suspecte of so pestiferous a contagion, whether it be vnder the penaltie of the crime confessed, •••• of excommunication, suspension or interdicte, or any other formidable payne canonicall or legall, when and wheresoeuer it shall seeme good to them, and as the quallitie of the facte requireth, by an othe corporally taken either vpon y^e holy Euangelistes, or vpon the reliques of Saintes, or vpon the image of the crucifixe, according to the obseruauntes of certayne places, and accordyng to the interrogatories, to make conuenient answere to euery ar∣ticle within written. For we intend agaynst all and singu∣lar archbishops, Byshops, Ecclesiasticall persons, or in∣quisitours, which shall shew themselues negligent and re¦misse in the extirpation of the leauen of this hereticall pra∣uitie, and purging their territories, dioces, and places to them appoynted, of such euill and wicked men: to proceed and to cause to be proceeded, vnto the deprauation and de∣position of their pontificall dignities, and shall substitute such other in their places, which can and may be able to cō¦found the sayd hereticall prauitie, and proceede to further paynes agaynst such by the lawe limitted, and vnto other yet more grieuous (if neede require) we our selues will proceede and cause to be proceeded, according as the party his fact, and filthines of his crime committed, shall deserue The tenour of those articles wherof we haue made menti∣on in this our owne writing are in wordes as follow.

The articles of Iohn Hus to be in∣quired vpon.

1, THere is one onely vniuersall Church, whiche is the vniuersitie of the predestinate, as shall after be de∣clared.

3. The vniuersall Church is onely one: as there is one v∣niuersitie of those that are predestinate.

3. Paule was neuer a member of the Deuill, although he did certayne actes like vnto the actes of the Church mali∣gnant.

4. The reprobate are not partes of the Churche, for that no part of the same finally falleth from her, because that the charitie of predestination, which bindeth the same Church together, neuer fayleth.

5. The two natures (that is) the Diuinitie, and the huma¦nitie, bee one Christ.

6. The reprobate, although he be sometime in grace, ac∣cording to present iustice, yet is he neuer a part of the holy Churche: and the predestination is euer a member of the Churche, although sometime he fall from grace aduentitia, but not from grace of predestinatiō: euer taking the church for the conuocation of the predestinate whether they be in grace or not according to present iustice. And after this sort the church is an article of our beliefe.

7. Peter is not, nor neuer was the head of the holy catho∣licke Church.

8. Priestes, liuing viciously, doe defile the authoritie of priesthood, and so, as vnfaythfull Children do vnfaythful∣ly beleue of the seuen sacraments, of the keyes of y^e Church of offices, of Censures, of ceremonies, of the worshippyng of reliques: indulgences, orders, and other holy things of the Church.

9. The papill dignitie came and grew from the Emperor and hys gouernement and institution, sprang from the em¦perours gouernment.

10. No man can reasonably affirme eyther of himselfe or other that he is the head of any particular Churche, or that the bishop of Rome, is the head of the Church of Rome.

11. A man ought not to beleue, that he which is byshop of Rome is the head of euery particuler Churche, vnles god haue predestinate hym.

12. None is the vicare of Christ, or els of Peter, vnlesse he follow him in maners and conditions, seing that there is no other following more pertinent, nor otherwise apte to receiue of God this power procuratory. For vnto y^e office of a vicegerent of Christ is required, the conformitie of ma¦ners and the authoritie of the institutor.

13. The pope is not the manifest and true successor of Pe∣ter the Prince of the Apostles, if he liue in maners contra∣ry to Peter: and if he hunt after auarice, then is he the vi∣car of Iudas Iscarioth. And likewise the Cardinalles be not the true and manifest successors of the Colledge of the other Apostles of Christ, vnles they lyue according to the maner of the Apostles, keeping the commaundementes & counsels of our Lord Iesus Christ.

14. The Doctors alledging, that if a man, which will not be amended by the Ecclesiasticall censures, is to be deliue∣red to the secular powers: do follow in this poynt, the by∣shops, Scribes and Phariseis, that deliuered Christ to the secular power (saying it is not lawfull for vs to kill anye man) because he would not obey them in all thinges, and that such be greater homicides then Pilate.

15. The ecclesiasticall obedience is such an obedience as y^e Priestes of the church haue found out, besides the expresse authoritie of the scripture. The immediate deuision of hu∣maine works, is y^t they be either vertuous or vicious, & if a man be vicious, and doth any thyng, then doth he it viti∣ously, & if he be vertuous, and doth any thinge, thē doth he it vertuously. For like as vice which is called a great offere or mortall sin, doth stayne all y^e doyngs of a vicious man: so vertue doth quicken all the doinges of a vertuous man.

16. A priest of God liuing after hys lawe, and hauing the knowledge of the scripture, and a desire to edify the people ought to preach, notwithstanding any excommunication, pretended of the pope, And further, if the pope, or anye o∣ther magistrate doeth forbid a priest so disposed to preache, he ought not to be obedient vnto hi••. For euery one that taketh vpō him the order of priesthood, receiueth in charge the office of a preacher: and of that burden ought he well to discharge himselfe, any excommunication against him pre∣tended in any wise notwithstanding.

17. By the Censures ecclesiasticall, as of excommunicati∣on, suspending, and interdicte, the clergy to their owne ad∣uauncement cause the lay people to ayd them: they multi∣ply their auarice, they defend their malice, and prepare the way to Antichrist. And it is an euident signe that such cen∣sures proceede from Antichrist, which in their process they call Fulminationes, that is, their thunderboltes where with the clergy principally proceedeth agaynst those that declare the wickednes of Antichrist, who so greatly for hys owne commoditie hath abused them.

18. If the pope be euill, especially if he be a reprob••••••, thē is he with Iudas a very deuill, a theefe and the sonne of perdition, and is not the head of the holy Church militant nor any member of the same.

19. The grace of predestination is the band, wherwith the body of the church and euery member of the same is indis∣solubly ioyned to their head Christ.

20. The pope or Prelate that is euill and a reprobate, is a Pastor in name, and not in deede, yea he is a theefe and a robber in very deede.

21. The P. ought not to be called the most holy one for his office sake, for then ought a king to be called by hys office y^e most holy one: and hangmen with other such officers also were to be called holye, yea the deuill hymselfe ought to be called holy, for asmuch as he is Gods officer.

22. If the pope liue contrary vnto Christ, although he clime vp by the right and lawfull election according to the common custome of men: yet notwithstanding shoulde be otherwise clime then by Christ, yea though wee admitte that he shoulde enter by the election principally made by God. For Iudas Iscarioth was lawfully elect of GOD Christ Iesus to hys byshopricke, and yet came not he the same way he ought to do vnto the shepefold.

23 The condemnation of 45. articles of Iohn Wickleffe by the doctors made, is vnreasonable, wicked and naught, & the cause by them alledged is sayned that is, that none of them are Catholicke, but euery on of them hereticall, erro∣neous, or slaunderous.

14. Not for that the electours, or the most part of thē haue

consented together with liuely voyce according to the cu∣stome of men vpon the person of any, therfore, that person is lawfully elect, or therfore is the true and manifest succes¦sors & vicar of Peter the Apostle, or of any other y^e Apostles in y^• ecclesiastical office. Wherfore, whether y^e electors haue either wel or euil made their election, it behoueth vs to be∣leue the same, by the workes of him that is elected. For in that that euery one that worketh more meritoriously to the profite of the Church, he hath so much the more greater au∣thoritie from God.

25.There is not so muche as one sparke of appearaunce that there ought to be one head, ruling and gouerning the church in spirituall causes, which should alwayes be con∣uersaunt in the church millita•••• For Christ without anye such monstrous heds, by his ••••ue disciples sparsed through the whole world could better a great deale rule his church.

26. The Apostles and faythfull priests of God, haue right worthily in al thinges necessary to saluation gouerned the church before the popes office tooke place, and so might they doe agayne, by like possibilitie vntill Christ came to iudgement, if the popes office should fayle.

Let euery one that is suspected in the foresayd articles, or els o∣therwise found with assertion of them, Be examined in maner and forme as followeth.

IN primis, whether he knew Iohn Wicleffe of Englande, Iohn Hus of Bohemia, and Hierome of Prage, or anye of them, and how he came by the knowledge of them, whi∣ther that during the liues of them or any of them, they had eyther bene conuersant with them, or found any frendship at their handes.

2. Item, whether he knowing them or any of them to be excommunicate, did willingly participate with them: este∣ming & affirming the same their participaciō to be no sin.

3.Item, whither that after their deathes, he euer prayed for them or any of them, openly or priuily, doing any work of mercy for them, affirming them to be either saintes, or els to be saued.

4. Item, whether he thought them or anye of them to be Saintes, or whether that euer he spake such wordes, and whether euer he did exhibite any worshippe vnto them as vnto saintes.

5. Item, whether he beleue, hold, and affirme, that euery generall councell, as also the Councell of Constance, doth represent the vniuersall Church.

6. Item, whether he doth beleue that that which the holy Councell of Constance: representing the vniuersall church hath and doth alow in the fauour of the fayth, and saluatiō of soules, is to be approued and allowed of all the faythfull Christians: and that whatsoeuer the same Councell hath condemned, and doth condemne to be contrary both to the fayth and to all good men, is to beleued, holden, and affir∣med for condemned or not.

7. Item, whether he beleueth that the condemnations of Iohn Hus, Iohn Wickleffe, and Hierome of Prage, made as well vpon their persons, as their bookes and doctrine by the holy generall Councelll of Constance, be rightly & iustly made, and of euery good Catholicke man, are so to be holden and affirmed, or not.

8. Item, whether he beleue, hold, and affirme, that Iohn Wickleffe of England, Iohn Hus of Bohemia, and Hie∣rome of Prage, were heretickes or not, and for heretickes to be nominated & preached, yea or not, and whether theyr bookes and doctrines were and be peruerse or not, for the which together with their pertinacie, they wre condem∣ned by the holye sacred Councell of Constaunce for here∣tiques.

9. Itē, whether he haue in his custody any treatises, smal workes, Epistles, or other writinges in what language or tongue soeuer, set forth and translated by any of these here∣tickes Iohn Wickleffe, Iohn Hus, and Hierome or any o¦ther of their false Disciples and followers, that he may de∣liuer them to the ordinaries of that place, or his commissa∣ry, or to the inquisitours, vpon hys othe. And if he say that he hath no such writing about him, but y^t they are in some other place: that then you sweare him to bring the same be∣fore his Ordinary or other aforenamed, within a certayne time to him prefixed.

10. Item, whether he knoweth any that hath y^e treatises, works, Epistles, or anye other writinges of the aforesayd Iohn Wickleffe, Iohn Hus, and Hierome, in whatsouer tong they are made or translated, and that he detect & ma∣nifest the same, for the purgation of their fayth and executi∣on of iustice.

11. Item, especially let the learned be examined, whether he beleueth that the sentence of the holy Councell of Con∣stance vpon the 45. articles of Iohn Wickleffe, and the 30. Articles of Iohn Hus be not Catholicke: which sayth that some of them are notorious hereticall, some erroneous, o∣ther some blasphemous, some slaunderous, some rash and seditious, some offensiue to godly eares.

12. Item, whether he beleeueth and affirmeth, that in no case it is lawfull for a man to sweare.

13. Item, whether he beleueth, that at the commaunde∣ment of a iudge or any other, it is lawfull to take an oth to tell the truth in anye conuenient cause, although it be but purging of an infamy or not.

14. Item, whether he beleueth that periury wittingly cō∣mitted, vppon what cause soeuer, whether it be for y^• safe∣gard of hys owne life, or of any other mans lyfe, (yea, al∣though it be in the cause and defence of the fayth) be a sinne or not.

14. Item, whether a man contemning purposedly the rites of the Churche, and the ceremonies of exorcisme of Cathechisme, and the consecration of the water of Bap∣tisme, be deadly sinne or not.

16, Item, whether he beleue, that after the consecration of the priest in the sacrament of the aultar vnder the figure of bread and wyne, be no materiall bread and wyne: but in al poyntes, the same very Christ which was crucified vppon the Crosse, and sitteth vpon the right hand of the father.

17. Item, whether he beleeue, that after the consecration made by the priest vnder the onely forme of bread and be∣sides the forme of wyne, be the very flesh of Christ and hys bloud, hys soule and hys deitie, and so whole Christ as he is, and in likewise, vnder the forme of wine without the forme of bread, bee the very fleshe of Christ and hys very bloud, his soule, and deitie, and so whole Christ, & the same body absolutely vnder euery one of those kinds singularly.

18. Item, whether he doth beleue, that the custome of hou∣seling of the lay people vnder the forme of bread only, ob∣serued of the vniuersall Church, and allowed by the onely Councell of Constance, be to be vsed, and not without the authoritie of the Churche, at mens pleasures to be altered, and that they that obstinately affirme the contrary to this, are to be punished as heretickes, or not.

19. Item, whether he beleue that those whiche contemne the receiuing of the sacramentes of confirmation, or ex∣treme vnction, or els the solemnisation of matrimony, cō∣mit deadly sinne or not.

20. Item, whether he beleeue, that a Christian man, ouer and besides the contrition of hart, being licensed of a con∣uenient priest, is bound to confesse himselfe only to a priest and not to any lay man, be he neuer so deuout or good, vp∣on the necessitie of saluation.

21. Item, whether he beleue, that in the cases before put, a priest may absolue a sinner confessing himself, and being contrite, from all sinnes and enioyne him penaunce for the same.

22. Item, whether he beleueth, that an euill Priest, with due maner and forme, and with the intentiō of doing, doth verily consecrate, doth verily absolue, doth verily baptise and doth verily dispose all other sacramentes euen as the Church doth.

23. Item, whether he beleeue that Saint Peter was the Uicar of Christ, hauing power to bynde and to lose vppon the earth.

24. Item, whether he beleue that the Pope being cano∣nically elect, whiche for the tyme shall be, by that name ex∣presly be the successor of Peter or not, hauing supreme au∣thoritie in the Church of God.

25. Item, whether he beleue that the authoritie of iurisdi∣ction of the Pope, an archbishop or a Bishop in binding & loosing, be more then the authorititie of a simple priest or not although he haue charge of soules.

26. Item, whether he beleue, that the pope may vpon a iust and good cause, geue indulgēces and remission of sins to all Christian men, being verily contrite and confessed, e∣specially to those that go on pilgrimage to holy places and good deedes.

27, Item, whether he beleue, that by such graunt the pil∣grimes that visite those Churches, and geue thē any thing may obtayne remission of sinnes or not.

28. Item, whether he beleue that all Bishops may graūt vnto their subiectes according as the holy Canons doe li∣mit, such indulgences or not.

29. Item, whether he beleue and affirme, that it is lawfull for faythfull Christians to worship Images and the re∣liques of sayntes or not.

30. Item, whether, he beleue that those religions, whiche the Churche hath allowed, were lawfully and reasonably brought in of the holy fathers or not.

31. Item, whether he beleueth that the pope or any other Prelate for the time being, or their vicars may excommu∣nicate their subiect Ecclesiasticall or secular for disobediēce or contumacie, so that such a one is to be holden and taken for excommunicate or not.

32. Item, whether ye beleue that for the disobediēce and contumacie of persons excommunicate, increasing: the pre¦lates or their vicares in spirituall thinges haue power to agrauate and to reagrauate, to put vpon men the interdict and to call for the secular arme: and that the same secular arme or power ought to be obedient to the censures, by their inferiors called for.

33. Item, whether he beleue that the pope and other pre∣lates or els their vicares, haue power in spirituall things to excommunicate priestes and lay men that are stubberne and disobedient, from theyr office, benefice or entrance into the church, and from the administration of the sacraments of the Church, also to suspend them.

34. Item, whether he beleue, that it is lawfull for eccle∣siasticall persons without committing sinne, to haue anye possessions & temporall goodes: and whether he beleeue, y^t it is not lawfull for lay men to take away the same from thē by their authoritie: but rather that such takers away & incrochers vpō ecclesiasticall goods, are to be punished as committers of sacriledge, yea although such Ecclesiasticall persons liue naughtely that haue such goodes.

35.Item, whether any such taking away or incrochyng vpō any priest rashly or violently made, although y^e priest be an euill liuer, be sacriledge or not.

36. Item, whether he beleue that it is lawfull for lay mē of whether sexe soeuer: that is men and women, to preache the word of God or not.

37.Item, whether he beleue that it is lawfull to al prie∣stes freely to preach the word of God whersoeuer, whenso¦euer, and to whom soeuer it shal please them, althogh they be not sent at all.

38. Item, whether he beleue that all mortall sinnes, and especiall such as be manifest and publike, are to be correc∣ted and to be extirpate or not.

Furthermore, wee will commaunde, and decree, that if any by secrete information by you or any other to be re∣ceiued, shall be founde either enfamed or suspected of anye kind of y^e pestiferous sect, heresie & doctrine of the most pe∣stilence men I. Wickleffe, I. Hus and Hierome of Prage the archheretickes aforesaid, or of fauoring, receiuing or de¦fending the foresayd damned men whilest they liued on the earth, their false followers and disciples, or any that belee∣ueth their errours, or any that after their death pray for thē or any of them, or that nominateth them to be amongst the number of catholick men, or y^t defendeth them to be placed amongst the number of y^• saintes, either by their preaching worshipping, or otherwaies wherin they deserue to be su∣spected: y^• then they by you or some of you, may be cited per¦sonally to appeare before you or some of you, w^tout either Proctor or Doctor to answere for them, an oth being opē∣ly taken by them as is aforesayd, to speak the plain & mere veritie of the articles aboue written and euery of them, or other oportune, as case and circumstance shall require, ac∣cording to your discretion, as you or anye of you shall see expediēt to proceed against them, or any of them according to these presentes or otherwise canonically, as you shall thinke good.

Also that you do publish solemnly & cause to be publi∣shed, these present letters, omitting the articles & interro∣gatories herein contayned, in the citties & other places of your dioces, where conueniently you may, vnder our au∣thoritie, & there to denounce and cause to be denounced all & singular such hereticks, with their abbetters & fauorers of their heresies & erroures, of what sexe or kinde soeuer, that do hold, & defend the sayd erroures, or doe participate any maner of way with heretickes, priuely or apertly, of what state, dignitie, or condition soeuer he or they be, Pa∣triarche, Archbishop, king, Queene, Duke or of what o∣ther dignitie either Ecclesiasticall or seculare he be: also with their aduocates and procurators whosoeuer, whiche are beleuers, followers, fauourers defenders, or receiuers of such heretickes, or suspected to be beleuers, followers, fautors, defenders or receiuers of them, to be excommuni∣cate, euery sonday and festiuall day, in the presence of the people.

Furthermore, that you dilligently do to be inquired by the sayd our authoritie, vpon all and singular such persons both men and women, that mayntayne, approue, defend, & teach such erroures, or that be fauourers, receauers and de¦fenders of them, whether exempt or not exempt, of what dignitie, state, preeminence, degree, order, or condition so∣euer. And such as you shal finde in the sayd your inquisi∣tion, either by their own confession, or by any other meane to be diffamed, or otherwise infected with the spot of suche heresie or errour, you, through the sentence of excommuni∣cation, suspension, interdict, and priuation of their digni∣ties, personages, offices, or other benefices of the Church, and fees, which they hold of any church, monastery and o∣ther Ecclesiastical places, also of honours and secular dig∣nities and degrees of sciences or other faculties, as also by other paynes and censures of the Church, or by wayes and meanes whatsoeuer els shall seeme to you expedient, by taking and imprisoning of their bodies, and other corpo∣rall punishmentes wherwith heretickes are punished, or are wont, and are commaunded by canonical sanctions to be vsed: and if they be clerkes, by degradation, doe correcte and punishe, and cause them to be corrected and punyshed with all dilligence.

Furthermore, that you do rise vp stoutly and couragi∣ously agaynst such heretickes, and the goodes as well of them, as of the lay men, according to the canonicall sanctiō made agaynst heretickes, and their followers, vnder the which we will and commaunde them and their partakers to be subiect. And also such persons, as shall be infamed of the heresies or errors aforesayd, or any of y^e premisses, shall be bounde to purge themselues, at your arbitrement: but the other which either be witnesses, or by their owne con∣fessions, or other allegations or probations, shalbe conuic¦ted of the foresaid heresies, or articles, or of any the premis∣ses, they shalbe compelled to reuoke and abiure publikely and solemnly the sayd articles and erroures, and to suffer condigne penaunce and punishment, yea euen to perpetu∣all imprisonment, (if need be) for the same.

And to the intent y^t they shall not nourish any kinde of heresies hereafter, either in word, deede, or gesture, or shall induce other, either in worde or deede, priuely or apertly, directly or indirectly to beleeue y^e same, they shalbe forced to put in sufficient suretie. Who, if it so chaunce that they wil not publikely and solemnly renounce and abiure their articles and errors, and take at your handes condigne pe∣naunce, though it be to perpetual, or tēporal punishment, according to your discretion, neither wil be cōtented to put in sufficient suretie that they will not hereafter holde nor nourish those erroures and heresies, neither wil induce o∣ther by word or deed, priuily or apertly, directly or indirec∣ly, or by any other maner of colour, to beleue the same: that then you shall proceede agaynst them, according to y^e qual∣ty of their erroures and demerites, yea and if you see it so expedient, as against heretickes, & as infected with heresie by our authoritie, according to the canonical sanctions su••∣marily and simply and plainly, sine strepitu & figura iudicij, & of office, all appellatiō or appellations whatsoeuer ceasing and that you punish the same, according to the sanctions & traditions canonicall, yea if neede be, in leauing and com∣mitting them to the secular power: and agayinst such as be superiors or learned doctors, laying the censures of ecclesi¦asticall excōmunication, al appellation set aside, also inno∣cating, if neede shall require, ayd of the secular arme: The constitution as wel of our predecessor P. Boniface 8. of bles¦sed memory, wherein is decreed that no man without hys City or dioces (except in certayne cases) or in places being one daies iornye distant from thence where he inhabiteth, shalbe called into iudgement, & that no man do presume to depute iudges frō y^e sea Apostolicke, w^tout the city & dioces where they are deputed, to proceede agaynst any: or do pre¦sume to cōmit their authority to any other person or persōs or to fetch & remoue any man beyond one dayes iorny frō out his Dioces where he dwelleth, or at most two dayes iourny, if it be in a generall councell: as also all other con∣stitutions of any byshop of Rome, touching as well, Iud∣ges delegate, as persons not to be called to iudgement be∣yond a certaine number: or els any other edict indulce, pri∣uelege, or exemption generall or special graunted from the Apostolike sea, for anye person or persons not to be inter∣dicted, suspended, or excommunicated, or cited vp to iudge∣ment without the compasse of certaine limites: or els what soeuer thing otherwise may hinder, stop, or impeache your iurisdiction, power, and free proceeding herein by anye meanes to the contrary notwithstanding. Dat Constant. the first yeare of our popedome.

¶This bloudy and abhominable commission of pope Martine, which I haue copied out of a certaine olde mo∣nument remaining in the handes of Maister Hackluyt, student in the Temple, seemeth to be directed and geuen out to the publike destruction of all faithful Christen men, about the latter end & breaking vp of the councel of Con∣stance, an. 1418. By the which the prudent reader hath this

to note and consider, what labour, what pollicie, what coū¦saile, & what lawes haue bene set, what wayes haue bene takē, what seueritie hath bene shewed, how mens power, wit, and authoritie of the whole world haue conspired to∣gether from time to time, cōtinually by all maner meanes to subuert and supplant the worde, and way of the Lorde: And yet notwithstanding man hath not preuayled, but all his force & deuised pollicies haue bene ouerthrown, dispat¦ched and w^t the councell of Achitophell and Ammon, haue bene brought to nought, and contrary to the furye of the world, the gospell of Christ hathe still increased. Neither yet for all this, will the Pope cease to spurne and rebell still against the kingdome of Christe, and of hys Gospell agaynst which, neyther he, nor yet y^e gates of hell shall e∣uer preuayle. The Lord of hostes be mercifull to hys poore persecuted flocke. Amen.

Agaynst this pestilent Bull and Inquisition of Pope Martine the great antechrist, I thought good here to ad∣ioyne and annexe an other contrarye writing of the Bohe∣mians, bearing the name and subscription of Procopius, Conradus, and other Captaynes of y^e Bohemians, which seemeth not long after the death of Zisca, to be written a∣gaynst the pestiferous sea of Rome, the tenour whereof here followrth.

A fruitfull and Christian exhortation of the Bohemianes to kinges and princes, to stir them vp to the zeale of the Gospell.

THe almighty God the father, by hys welbeloued sonne Iesus Christ, may in hys holy spirite open the vnder∣standing both of you and of all Christians, & lighten your hartes with the light of hys doctrin of righteousnes, and may make you to continue therin, surely established to the end. This we desire of you for your saluation, all ye honou¦rable, wise, & honest noble men, & al the Comminaltie, ye rich and poore, heare and consider with dilligent heede, the wordes of this present letter, which is sent vnto you from the Country of the Bohemianes. It is manifest and well knowne to you and many other citties, Kynges, princes, and Lordes, that now a certayne number of yeares, there hath ben great discord betwixt vs and you, and there haue bene some which haue moued you by letters, and prouo∣ked you to make warre against vs, and to destroy vs. And as well on your part as on ours: many men, as wel noble as vnnoble, haue foolishly lost their lyues. Yet neuer he∣therto haue ye in any parte vnderstoode our fayth by our owne confession, neither whether we be able to proue the same out of the scriptures, yea or no: and yet in the meane time, kinges, Princes, Lordes, and Citties, haue sustay∣ned great dammage. And hereof we greatly meruaile, that ye do so much trust and beleue the pope and hys priestes, which geue you drinke full of poyson, and such comfort as no man can vnderstand, in that they say that they wil geue you forgeuenes of all your sinnes, and great grace & par∣don, to this end, that you should warre vpon vs & destroy vs: wheras their graces and pardons are none other then great lies, and a great seducing of the body and soule of all them that beleue them: and put their trust in them. Thys we would proue vnto them, & ouercome them by the holy scripture, and we wold suffer: that whosoeuer is desirous to heare the same, shoulde heare it. For the Pope and all hys priestes, herein deale with you as the deuill woulde haue done wyth our Lorde Iesus Christ. Of whome Luke writeth in hys 4. chap. that be brought him vpon an high hill, & shewed vnto hym in the twinckling of an eye, al the kyngdomes that are in the compasse of the earth, & said vnto him: I wil geue thee &c. So the deuill deceiueth the pope, and all the priestes with the riches of the worlde, and worldly power: And they thinke they can geue grace and pardon when they wyll, and they themselues shall neuer finde fauour before almighty God, except they repent and make amendes, because of theyr great deceauing of Chri∣stēdom. And how can they geue that to others, which they themselues haue not? So dyd the Deuill, who was rich in promising, and poore in geuing. And like as the Deuill is not ashamed to tell a lye, so all they are not ashamed to speake that which shall neuer be found true, nor be proued by the holy scriptures, because for no cause, they stirre vp kinges, Princes, Lordes, and Citties, to make warre a∣gaynst vs, not to the end that the Christian fayth shoulde therby be defended, but because they feare y^t theyr secret vi∣ces and heresies shalbe disclosed and made manifest. For if they had a true cause, & a godly loue to the Christiā faith they would then take the books of the holy scripture, and would come vnto vs, and ouercome vs with the weapōs of Gods word, and that is our chiefe desire. For so dyd the apostles of our Lord Iesus Christ, who came to y^e Pa∣ganes and Iewes, and brought them from their infidelitie to the true fayth of our Lorde Iesus Christ, and this they dyd in the spirite of meckenes, as the Apostle Paule wri∣teth in the 6. chap. to the Galat. Brethren if anye man be a∣greeued. &c. So ought they also to doe, if they perceiued that they were iust, and we vniust. And if we woulde not abide instruction: then they might take to them kinges, Princes, Lordes, and imperiall citties, and resist vs accor¦ding to the commaundementes of the holy scripture. But this is the subtile defence of all the Byshops and Priestes that they say that mayster Hus and Hierome which were burnt at Constance, were ouercome of the holy father the Pope, and of the whole Councell: For ye must vnderstand that they were not ouercome by the holy Ghost, but vniust¦ly, with wrongfull violence, which God may yet hereafter greeuously punishe in all them that gaue their counsel and ayd thereto: and they saye it ought not to be suffered, tha we should be heard in confessing our fayth. How may that be proued by the holy scripture, since christ heard the deuilt as it is written in the fourth chap. of Mathewe? And theyl are not better then Christ, nor we worsse then the Deuill. If they be iust and haue the truth with them (as they saye they haue) and we be vnrighteous, why do they feare, sinc the truth ought not to be afeard of falshod, as Esdras wri∣teth in hys second booke, the third chapiter. Zorobabell declared that truth is of all thinges the most mightye, and ouercommeth all thinges. For Christ is the trueth. Iohn 14. I am the way, the trueth. &c. And the deuill is the fa∣ther of lies. Iohn. 8. He is a lyerfrom the beginning, and neuer abode in the truth, & there is no truth in him. Ther¦fore if the pope and hys priestes haue the truth, let them o∣uercome vs with the word of God. But if they haue lyes, then they cannot long abide in al their presumptiō. Wher∣fore, we exhort and beseech al the imperiall Cities, al kings Princes, noble men, rich and poore, for Gods sake, and for hys righteousnes, that one of them write hereof to an o∣ther, and that there may be some meanes made howe we may cōmune w^t you safely and friendly, at some such place as shal be fit both for you and vs, and bring with you your Byshops and teachers, and let them & our teachers fight together with the word of God, and let vs heare them, and and let not one ouercome the other by violence or false sub¦tiltie, but onely by the word of God. And if your Bishops and teachers haue better proofes of theyr fayth out of the holy scripture, then we, and our fayth be found vntrue, we will receiue penaunce and satisfaction: according to Gospell. But if your Byshops and teachers be ouercome of ours by the holy Scripture, then doe ye repent and har∣ken to vs, and hold with vs. And if your Byshops & tea∣chers will cease from their spirituall pride, and repent and make satisfaction: then wil we helpe you according to our power, and will compell them, eyther to ioyne with vs, or els we will expell them out of Christendome. And if your Byshops and teachers will say, that it is not lawfull for lay men to heare such reasoning, or to be presēt at it: that may you vnderstand to tend to no other end, but that they feare they should be ouercome and put to shame in the sight of you: For if they knew that they should ouer∣come therein, out of doubt, they would desire that euery mā should heare it, & thereby, their glory should become the greater, & their fame and prayses should be encreased vpon the earth. And if your Bishops and teachers coūsell you to come to no hearing with vs, thē do it whether they will or no, & suffer not your selues at any time to be so fo∣lishly seduced with their folish pardons, but tary at home in your houses w^t your wiues and children. And let y^e pope of Rome come to vs with all his Cardinals and byshops, and with all hys priestes, with his owne person & power to warre with vs, & let themselues deserue the absolution of sinnes, grace, and pardon, which they preach to you (for they haue great nede of forgeuenes of sinnes, grace, & par∣dō) & by the grace of god we will geue them pardō enough as they shall neede. But their subtile excuse is this: they say that it belōgeth not to priestes to fight w^t bodily weapons & true it is that belongeth not to them: but it belongeth as little to them to stirre vp, to counsaile, & to fortifie others thereto: For Paule saith in the y^e 1. to the Rom. & in y^e fift to y^e Galath. that all that do such thinges are worthy of e∣uerlasting death.

And if yewill not determine to do any other thing then to fight against vs, then will we take the Lord to our helpe and his trueth, & we will defend it to the death, & we will not be afraid for the excommunicatiō or curse of the Pope, or his cardinals, or of y^e bishops, because we know that y^• Pope is not god as he maketh himselfe, that he can curse and excommunicate when he will, or blesse when he will:

who hath now these many yeares cursed and excōmuni∣ted vs, & yet notwithstanding, God and his gratious bles∣sing hath bene our helpe. But peraduēture ye wil say, that though we see that bishops and priests be euill & wicked, yet we cānot lacke them: for who should baptise our chil∣dren, who should heare confessions, & minister the holy sa∣craments? and then also we should be w^tin the excommu∣nication of the pope & of his bishops. Welbeloued, ye nede to take no care for these matters. The excōmunicating of the Pope hurteth you nothing. Feare ye the excommuni∣cating of God, and the Lorde wil prouide for those things wel enough. If ye would banish euil bishops and priests, ye shuld haue good priestes which shuld baptise your chil∣dren, heare cōfessions, and minister the holy mysteries, bi∣cause when y^e deuill is banished, then place is made for the holy ghost: So when yll bishops and priestes shall be ba∣nished, then place shal be made for good priestes & bishops Also, your bishops and priests say, that we are miscreants and hereticks, & that we beleue not on purgatory, vpō the virgine Mary, nor vpon the sayntes: wherein they say ill for we will proue by the holy scripture, that we know bet∣ter by Gods grace how we ought to beleue vpon Purga∣tory, & vpon Mary the mother of our Lord, & vppon hys welbeloued saints, thē they can tell vs. Also they say, y^t we wil not be obediēt vnto the P. Truly when he shalbe come holy and iust, then we know well that we ought to be obe¦dient to him in al things and not before. They say also that we destroy Gods holy seruice, in that we destroy monaste¦ries, banishing thence the wicked Monkes and Nunnes. Truely we dyd it, thinking once that they were holy, that they did the reuerend seruice of god, but after that we well perceiued and considered their lyfe & works, then we per∣ceiued that they were false lowly hipocrites, and wicked builders on high, and sellers of pardōs and masses for the dead, and such as deuoured in themselues the sinnes of the people. And where as they sayd that they rise at midnight when other men sl••epe, and pray for the sins of the people: forasmuch as their selling of their praiers and masses for y^e dead for gifts, is no better then hipocrisie and heresie: ther¦fore if we do speake agaynst them and destroy their mona∣steries, we do not therin destroy the seruice of God, but ra∣ther the seruice of the deuill, and the schooles of heretickes. And if ye knew them as we know them, ye would as dili∣gently destroy them as we do. For Christ our Lord did not ordayn anysuch order, & therfore it must needs come to pas that shortly it shal be destroyd as our lord saith in the Gos∣pel of S. Mathew the 15. chapter. Euery plant whiche my father hath not planted, shalbe rooted vp. We desire you also that ye woulde dilligently consider the article•• here written, wherein your bishops and priestes are guilty.

The 1. article is, that when your bishops will ordaine priests, they do it not, except he y^• is to be made priest haue sufficient liuing, eyther inheritance left him of hys parents or of benefices: wheras notwithstanding, Christ wold that priestes should be poore, forasmuch as it is enough for the scholar to be as his maister is, and for the seruaunt to be as his Lord is: and the bishops wil that they should be rich v vpon earth, which is vniust before the Lord.

The 2. article is, that bishops take mony of such as are to be ordained, but S. Peter did therfore sharply rebuke Si¦mon Magus, when he would haue geuen him mony, as it is written in the 8. of the actes.

The 3. article is, that they that come to be priestes enter into priesthoode, not for gods seruice sake, because they mean to preach and encrease it among the Christiā people, so as the people may be edified and made better: but rather for an idle life, and that they may eate well and drinke wel and that they may be honoured and reuerēced vpon earth For euery one wayteth vpon hys priest as a theefe and a robber, as Iohn writeth in his x. thap.

The 4. article is of excommunication, which the Pope and all his priestes take to themselues, and therwith fetter & bind all Christian people as they will, and they thinke y^t whosoeuer they excommunicate or curse, hee is accursed and excommunicate before God: And we wil proue by the holy Scripture, that they themselues are excommunicate & accursed before God, because they kepe not the commaun∣dement of the loue of God, wherof the Apostle writeth in y^t 1. to the Cor. the 16. chap. If any man loueth not our Lorde Iesus Christ, he is excommunicate in the day of the com∣ming of the Lord. For they cannot excommunicate you, who are already bound and excommunicate before God & hys saintes: and therefore why feare ye their excommuni∣cation?

The 5, Article is, that they take gifts for to pray for the dead, and to say masse for theyr soules. This is a wicked∣nes and heresie before the Lord, & all they that contribute to them to this end, do wickedly, for that hereby priests be¦come merchantes of prayers and of masses: and herewyth is all the church of Rome poysoned and defiled. For if they would pray for the dead and say masse for their soules, yet no man ought to hire thē thereto, forasmuch as they ought to take no giftes, neither little nor great. And euery one that taketh rewardes to this end, to redeeme soules out of purgatory, do therwithal cast their own soules down into hel. And they y^t geue any thing to that end, doe altogether lose y^• which they geue. And with such deuilishe sub••lety, y^• Pope with all his priestes hath deceiued, spoyled and dis∣herited kinges, princes, Lordes and knights, & good hous¦holders and many other, of their lawful inheritaunces, be¦cause their ancestors & progenitours gaue it to Colledges, monasteries & churches, y^t they might make memorials of thē & to sing or say prayers or masses for their soules, that they might be redeemed out of Purgatorye. And wyth such goodes, Byshops, Canons, and Monasteries haue made themselues so riche, that now they fall at variaunce with cities, & princes: & wheras they should procure peace betwixt cities and rulers, there they are the first that begin warre: and as long as they haue such goodes, they wil ne¦uer cease to be at strife with Lordes and cities, neither wil they begin to teach you the true foundation of y^e truth: For they do as a dogge, which as long as he holdeth a bone in his mouth and knaweth it: so long he holdeth his peace & cannot barcke. Euen so, as long as they haue this bone of pleasaunt riches, it wyl neuer be well in the world. Wher∣fore all kinges, princes and imperiall Citties should doe a great worke of godlines and mercy, if by them they were compelled to do this, as the dog is when the boane is takē from hym.

And therfore ye noble men, Kinges, princes, Lordes, imperiall Citties, and all the communaltie, both riche and poore, if ye haue bene a sleep yet now awake and opē your eyes and behold the subtiltie of the deuill, how he hath blin¦ded the Church of Rome, and take agayne that is youres, and not theirs. And if you wil make a good memoriall for your soules, then do as the wyse man saith, Eccle. 19: Lay vp almes. &c.

The 6. article is, that they are full of pride and of high mynde, which is manifestly knowne by their long, costlye and superfluous garmentes, wherein they walke very vn¦like to Christ our Lord, who had a garmēt without a seam and to the welbeloued Iohn Baptist, who had a garment of Camels heare, and they wyl be honoured and worshyp¦ed, and they preach and say that Priesthood ought to be ho¦noured, and so it ought in deede to be, but there is none y^t do so much sclander and abase it, as they themselues, with their euill works, gay apparell, and with their euil words wherein they passe all other men. Paul sayth the i. to Tim. the 3. chapter. Let the Elders that gouerne wel, be honou∣red with double honour, chiefly they that labour in y^e word and doctrine of the Lord. Consider, that he sayth they that gouerne well.

The 7. article is, that they are couetous from y^e highest to the lowest, and for couetousnes they preach many folish deedes & manifest lies, & sell the holy sacramentes, whiche is a great heresie: for God commaunded that they shoulde geue freely. Paule writeth in the first to Timothy: Coue∣tousnesse is the roote of all mischief, wherunto many haue ben geuen, and therefore they are separated from the fayth and haue denyed the truth.

The viii. article is, that they commonly are called no∣torious whoremongers. This is manifestly seene in theyr concubines and children, which walke openly in all mens sight, and make many mens wiues whoores, or corrupte their daughters being virgins, and make thē priests har∣lots and rybauldes.

The ix. Article is, that they are ful of deuilish enuy, and especially in al Monasteries they haue great enuy and ha∣tred amongest themselues, because when any thing is ge∣uen or disposed to one Monastery or Colledge, then there are others, that hate it, and enuy at it, and woulde more gladly haue it themselues: Like as among dogs when any thing is geuen to the one and not to the other, which the o∣ther seing, enuyeth hys fellow, & the other likewise wil ra∣ther deuour all himselfe then geue any part to his fellowe. Wherefore it were well that they were brought from that great sin of enuy in geuing nothing vnto thē: And it were better that their possessions were takē from them, and that they should do that which the Lord spake to hys disciples saying: Go ye and preach the Gospell to all men.

The x. article is, that they are idle, and chiefly the By∣shops, Chanons, and other Prelates, which wil not labor dilligently in the holy Scripture, wherewith they might cure the miseries of Christendome, wherto they haue boūd

thēselues, and they eate the bread therof in idlenes, because when other men watch and labour to mayntaine themsel∣ues and their little ones, thē are they with their lemmons or els they walke in some Cittie, carying hawkes on their fistes, or els they sit at the good wyne w^t their Concubines. and there they sing and play the Lucians, & eat of the best and therfore al that willingly bring and geue to them, shal be made partners of that curse whiche is geuen them of God, because they eate their bread vniustly, whereof Paul writeth in the 2. to the Thess. the 3. chapter: He that labou∣reth not, let him not eate.

The 11. article is, that they are notorious liers, beca••••e to the end that they may please men, they tel many tales & lies, which in the holy Scripture haue no foundation nor proofe. Of such wryteth Iohn in the Apoca. 21.

The 12. article is, that they doe not rightly giue or mi∣nister to the people the body of our Lord Iesus Christ, and they geue it not as God hath instituted it and commanded. This is a great & a deuilish sinne and to great malapert∣nesse. Heerein we woulde ouercome them, wyth the testi∣monies of the Euangelistes: I say we woulde ouercome the Pope, and all his Priestes, with the authorityes of Marke, Luke and Paule. Rom. 13. and we woulde suffer, that Kinges, Princes, Lordes and all that are willing to heare, should heare it.

The 13. Article is, that they sit in spiritual iudgement, and then many times they iudge according to fauour, and not according to the righteousnesse of God, and they take bribes giuing sentence for hym, which in Gods sight hath the wrongfull cause. Wo be to such sentēces, as it is wryt∣ten in Isay 5. Wo be to ye that. &c.

The 14. Article is, that they sit hearing cōfessions, and when there come to them vsurers, raueners, and theeues, they take bribes of them of their ill gotten goodes, to spare them: and they willingly suffer them in cities and towns. And likewise of adulterers, and other notorious whore∣mongers and whores, and they neuer let or stay them in their great sinnes, to the end that the scripture may be ful∣filled in them, which sayeth: Giftes and the loue of money do draw to hell, and do blinde the eyes of iudges.

The 15. Article is, that they receiue tithes of men, and will of right haue them, and preache and say that men are bound to giue them tithes, and therin they say falsly: For they can not proue by the new Testament, that our Lorde Iesus Christ commanded it, and his disciples warned no man to do so, neither did themselues receiue them. But al∣though in the old Testament, it were commanded to geue tithes, yet it can not thereby be prooued, that christian men are bound thereto: For this precept of the olde Testament had an end in the first yeare of our Lord Iesus Christ, like as the precept of Circūcision. Wherfore welbeloued, con∣sider and see, how your bishops seduce you and shut youre eyes with things that haue no proofe. Christ sayeth in the 11. of Luke. Geue almes of those thinges that remaine, but he said not, geue the tenth of the goodes, which yee possesse, but geue almes. But when they heare the word, they may say as the lawyer said to Christ: Maister when thou sayest so, thou geuest offence. Luke 11.

The 16. Article is, that they in many places lende mo∣ney or goodes to haue treasure or vsurie, and they haue in cities and townes, yearely paiments and perpetual reue∣nues, as great Princes and Lordes. Wherein they doe a∣gainst the Gospel, which sayth, do not ye possesse gold nor siluer. And wheras they lend for gaine and vsury, againste that speaketh the Lord, Deu. 24. Lend not to vsury to thy brother. &c. Ye honest discrete and well beloued Lords, all the foresaide Articles we wil prooue against the Pope, and all his priests, with many testimonies of the holy Scrip∣ture, which for breuities sake, we haue not here mētioned. But note ye chiefly these 4. Articles, for which wee striue, and desire to defend them to the death.

The first Article is, that all publicke, and customably mortall sinnes ought to be forbidden and prohibited to all Priests and lay men, according to the commaundement of the holy Scripture.

The seconde Article is, that richesse ought to be taken from the Pope and all hys Priestes, from the hyghest to the lowest, and they ought to bee made poore, as the Disci∣ples of our Lord Iesus Christ were: who had nothyng of their own, neither possessiōs in this world, neither world∣ly power.

The third Article is, that the word of God ought to be free for euery mā appointed and ordained therto, to preach and read in al places, whether they shal come, without re∣sistance of any man or without any inhibitiō of either spi∣rituall or earthly power openly or manifestly.

The fourth article is, that the body of our Lord Iesus Christ ought to be deliuered to euery christian as our lord hath ordained it, and as the holy Euangelists haue wryt∣ten. We haue also vnderstood that there shalbe a Councell in Basile: Wherfore let no mā be exalted, but let them dili∣gētly kepe their wiues, their daughters and their virgins from Byshops, Priests, and Monkes. And do not thinke y^t there is made any holy assembly of Bishops and Priests for the common commodity and profit of Christendom, but onely to thys end that they may hide their secret vices and heresies, with the cloke of hypocrisye, and let and hinder y^e righteousnesse of God, which is muche contrary to them: and for this cause consider ye diligently, that they will not make an holy assembly, but the congregation of Sathan. And take ye heede that it be not done as some did at Con∣stance, who tooke money of Bishops and Prelates, & suf∣fered them to sleepe with their wiues. Ye welbeloued and honest Lordes, if ye finde any thing in these aforesaide Ar∣ticles or wordes wrytten somewhat sharply, we did it not to offend or contemne you, but to the ende that ye shoulde diligently consider and deuise howe Christendome is so ill kept and led by the Priests of this present age. Our Lorde Iesu Christ keepe you both in body and soule. Amen. In the yeare of our Lord. 1430.

Preropus, Smahors, Conradus, Samssmolich, Capitaines of Bohemia.

Nowe to prosecute the warres of the Bohemians a∣gaine, after Zisca was dead, wherof we did intreat before, there was great feare, sorrow, and lamentation in the ar∣my, the soldiers accusing fortune which gaue ouer such an inuincible captaine to be ouercome with death. Immedi∣atly there was a diuision in the host, the one parte chusing Procopius Magnus to be their captaine, the other parte say∣ing, that there was none could be found worthy to succede Zisca: whereuppon they chusing out certaine to serue the warres, named themselues Orphanes.

Thus the Thaborites being deuided into two armies, the one part retained their olde and accustomed name, and the other by meanes of the death of their captayne, named themselues Orphanes. And all be it, that oftentimes there was dissension betwene them, yet when soeuer any forein power came towards them, they ioyned their powers to∣gether in one campe, and defended themselues. They sel∣dome went vnto any fensed townes except it were to buy necessaries, but liued with their wiues and childrē in theyr campe & tents. They had amongst them many cartes, the which they vsed as a Bulwarke: For when so euer they went vnto battell, they made two wings of them, whyche closed in the footemen. The winges of the horse men were on the out side, and when as they sawe their time for to ioyne battell, the wagon men which led the wings, going forth vnto the Emperors standerd, and compassing in such part of their enemies as they woulde, did close themselues in together, whereby the ennemies being inclosed, so that they could not be rescued, they were partly by the footemē, & partly by the men that were in the carres w^t their dartes slaine. The horsemen fought without the fortification: and if it happened that they were oppressed or put to flight, by and by the carres opening themselues, receiued them as it were into a fensed Citie: and by this meanes they got ma∣ny victories, for so much as their enemies were ignorant of their pollicies.

These 2. armies went foorth, the one into Slesia, and the other into Morauia, and returned againe wyth great pray, before their enemies knewe of their comming. After this they besieged y^e towne of Swetley in Austrich, where as the Thaborites and the Orphanes, two nightes conti∣nually assaulted the walles wythout ceasing, but Albert Duke of Austrich comming with his hoste to aide the Ci∣tizens, they fought by the space almost of foure houres, the valiauntest warriers being slaine on both partes. At the length the battaile was broken of, and the Thaborits lost their carres, and Albert was put out of his camp & tents. Within a while after, Procopius Magnus came agayne and inclosed the citie of Rhetium in Austria w^t a notable siege. They of Prage were in his army, and Boslaus Cygneus, of whome we spake before, was slaine there with a dart, & the city of Rhetium was taken by force, sacked and burnt. The Burgraue of Malderburge Lord of the towne, was also taken and caried vnto Prage, where also hee dyed in prison.

These thinges thus done, the Emperour sent for the nobles of Boheme, which went vnto him vnto a town of Hungary, called Posonium in the borders of Austria, vpō the bāks of the riuer of Danubius: but they wold not en∣ter into the towne, but remained w^tout the towne in their tents, whether as the Emperoure going out vnto them,

communing muche w^t them as touching his right & title, and the recouering of his fathers kingdome, promising if there were any cause, which did alienate the Bohemians minds from him, that he would take away al the occasion therof. They made answer, that he had made warre vpon them without cause, and that he had suffred their countrey men cōtrary to his promise, to be burnt at Constance not being heard, and the kingdom to be contumeliously inter∣dited, and the Nobles of Boheme to be condemned by the church of Rome as heretickes: and that he should thincke the force and power of the Bohemians not to be so small, but that they would prouide for their owne honor. Wher∣unto the Emperor answered very gently, & offered them a general councel, wherein they might declare their inno∣cency, if they woulde submit themselues to the iudgement of the vniuersal Church: but the Bohemians which were now become valiant victors in armes, would not now be ouercome with wordes, and so nothing being finally con∣cluded, the Emperor returned home.

Then pope Martin perceiuing the Gospell to increase daily more and more, sent the Cardinall of Winchester an Englishman, borne of a noble house, into Germanie to mooue them vnto warre against the Bohemians. Where∣vnto the Emperor also did assiste him.

There were three armies prouided. In the first armie were the Dukes of Saxonie, and the lower cities.

The 2. armye, which was gathered of y^e Franconians, was vnder y^e conduct of the Marques of Brandenburge.

The 3. army was led by Otho the archbishop of Tre∣uers, whom the Rhenenses, the Bauarians, and the Im∣periall cities of Sweuia followed. These armies entring into Boheme, in 3. seuerall partes, after they were passed the woode, they ioyned together & pitched before Misna. This towne a certaine learned and eloquent protestāt, na∣med Prichicho, the night before, had won frō the Papists: wherfore the army was determined first to recouer y^t citie, before they woulde goe any further. But when as newes came vnto the host, how the Protestants had gathered an army, and came w^tall spede towards them: they fled before they saw their enemies, and went vnto Thaconia, leauing behind them their warlike engins with a great pray. The Cardinall was not yet come into the campe, but meeting them in their flight at Thacouia, he maruailed at the cow∣ardly flight of so many Noble and valiaunt men, desiring them that they woulde turne againe vnto their ennemies, which he sayde, were farre weaker then they. Which thing when he had long trauailed about in vaine, hee was faine to be a companion with them in their flight. They were scarsly entred the woode, when as the Bohemians com∣ming vpon thē, set vpon their rereward. Then was theyr flight muche more disordered and fearfull then before, nei∣ther did they leaue flying before the Bohemiās left folow∣ing. Then all impediment or let being taken away, they vanquished Thacouia: and hauing obtained great store of warlike engines, they destroyed Misna. And when they would haue returned home by Franconia, they had great summes of mony sent vnto them y^t they shuld not wast or destroy the Countreis of Bramberge and Noremberge: wherby the host of the Bohemians was greatly enriched.

Sigismundus the Emperour hauing newes of these things, went straighte vnto Noremburge, and gathered there new aide and helpe. Also Pope Martin sent Iulian the cardinall of S. Angel into Germany with his ambas∣sade, to make warre against the Bohemians, and that hee should in the Counsell of Basill, which doth nowe shortly draw on, be president in the popes name. He entring into Germany, went straight to Norenberge to the Emperor, wheras many of the nobles of Germany were assembled.

There was a new expedition decreed against the Bo∣hemians, against the 8. Kalendes of Iuly, and Fredericke Marques of Brandenburge appoynted generall of that warre, which should follow the Cardinal. He entred into Boheme by the way that leadeth vnto Thopa, and Alber∣tus prince of Austrich was appoynted to bring hys armie thorough Morauia.

In this expedition was Albert & Christopher of Ba∣naria, and Friderike Dukes of Saxony, Iohn and Albert princes of Brandenburge, wyth their father, which was generall of those warres. Also the bishops of Hyperbolis, Bamberge, and Eisten. Also the company of the Sweui∣ans, which they called the company of S. George, and the Magistrates of the imperial cities, the bishops of Mentz, Treuers and Colen sent their aides, and wyth them the chieftaines of their prouinces. It is sayd that the number of their horsemen were aboue 40000. But their footemen were not full so many, for the Germains for the most part do vse to fight their battels on horsebacke.

Also Rhenatus prince of Loraine promised to come to these warres, but being letted by his ciuill warres, for so∣much as hee went about to vanquish the Earle of Uan∣dome, wherby he could not keepe his promise, neyther the County Pallatine of Rheine, which did aide and succour the Earle of Uandome, coulde not goe against the Bohe∣mians. The Cardinal staying for them, deferred his iour∣ney vntill the Kalends of August. In the meane time, Al∣bert leading his armie out of Austria, vnderstanding that the Cardinall was not present at the day appoynted, and seeing himselfe vnable to encounter wyth the Bohemian power, he returned backe againe. After this the Cardinall entred into Boheme with an huge army, & destroyed ma∣ny of the protestantes townes, killing men, women, and children, sparing neither olde nor yong: notwithstanding, this his tiranny was exercised in the vttermost borders of Boheme, for his captaines feared to enter farre into the land. The Bohemians assone as they that heard tel y^• their enemy was come, made ready, & gathered their host with all speede, and laid siege to a towre called Stiltiuerge, and brought it vnder subiection.

In the meane season there fel such a maruelous sodein feare amongs al y^• papists throughout the whole campe, y^• they begā most shamefully to run away before any enemy appearing in sight. The cardinal Iulianus maruelling at this most sodein feare, and what should moone so great an army to flie, went about vnto y^• captains, exhorting them to put on armor, to order their battels, & coragiously to a∣bide their enemies, saying: they did not fight for the glory of their kingdom, or for the possessiō of lands, but for their liues, and the honor & religion of Christ, and for the sal∣uation of soules. How ignominious a thing is it (saith he) for the Germains to flie in battell, whose courage and va∣liantnes all the world doth extoll? It were much better for to die, then to geue place to any enemies, before they were seene: for they can by no meanes liue in safetie wythin the walles, which geue place vnto their enemy in the field, for it is the weapon that defendeth a man and not the walles, and except they would euen presently defend their libertie with the sworde, they should shortly be in greater bōdage, more miserable then any death. But this exhortation was all in vaine, for feare had put away all boldnes: for the en∣signes were snatched vp, and as though there had bene no captaine in the hoste, euery man ran headlong away. No man regarded any commandement, neither once tooke his leaue of his captaine, but casting away their armour with speedy flight they ranne away, as though their enemy had bene at their backes. The Cardinall also, although it were against his will, was forced to doe the like.

Thus the protestants by y^e feare of their enemies made the more bolde and couragious, pursued them thorow the woodes, and had a great pray & spoile of them. Notwith∣standing, Albertus, when he heard tell that the Cardinall was entered into Boheme, with all speede came agayne out of Austrich with his army, & besieged the strong town of Prezorabia: but when he vnderstoode howe the Cardi∣nall was fled, he left of his purpose, and returned through Morauia, which was not yet subiecte vnto him, and de∣stroyed aboue 50. townes wyth fire and sword, toke many of their cities by force, and spoiled them, committing great murther and slaughter, and so afflicted them, that they toke vpon them his yoke, and promised to be subiecte and obe∣dient to him vnder this condition, that as touching religi∣on he would be bounde to doe that whych the Councel of Basil should determine.

Then was there an ambassade sent out of Boheme vn∣to Basil, where as Sigismund held the Councel, who du∣ring the time of warres, had kept himself at Noremberge. When as hee shoulde take his iourney vnto Rome to bee crowned Emperour, hee wrote letters vnto the nobles of Boheme, wherin was contained, how that he was a Bo∣hemian borne, and how he was not more affectioned to a∣ny nation, then to his own, and that he went to Rome for none other cause, but to be crowned, the which his honor shoulde also be a renowne to the Bohemians, whome to aduaunce it hath bene alwaies his speciall care.

Also, how that through his endeuor the Councel was begon at Basill, exhorting all suche as were desirous to be heard as touching religion, that they shuld come thether, and that they woulde not maintaine any quarell contrary to the holy mother church, that the Councel wold louing∣ly and gentlely heare their reasons: that they should onely endeuour themselues to agree wyth the Synode as tou∣ching religion, and reserue and kepe a quiet and peaceable kingdome for hym, against his returne: Neyther shoulde the Bohemians thinke to refuse his regiment, whose bro∣ther, father, and vncle, had raigned ouer them, and that hee

would reigne ouer them after no other meane or sort, then other Christian kings vsed to doe.

The councel of Basil also wrote their letter to the Bo∣hemians, that they should send their Ambassadors which should shew a reason of their faith, promising safeconducte to go & come, and free liberty to speake what they woulde. The Bohemians in this point were of 2. opinions, for the Protestants & almost all the common people, sayd, it was not good to go, alledging the examples of Iohn Hus and Hierome of Prage, which going vnto Constance vnder the safeconduct of the Emperour, were there openly bur∣ned. But the nobility folowing the minde of Maynardus, prince of the new house, sayde, that they ought to goe vnto the Councell, and that they are not to be suffred which had inuented those new and strange opinions of faith, & newe kinde of religion, except they would render accōpt of theyr doings and sayings before the vniuersall church, & defend those things, which they had openly taught, before learned men. This opinion tooke place, and an ambassade of 300. horse was sent vnto Basil. The chiefe wherof were Willi∣am Cosca a valiant knight, & Procopius surnamed Mag∣nus, a mā of worthy fame for his manifold victories. Ioh. Rochezana preacher of Prage. Nicolas Galecus, minister of the Thaborites, and one Peter an Englishman, of ex∣cellent prōpt and pregnant wit. The people came in great number out of the towne, and many out of the synode and councell, attending before the gates to see the comming of this valiāt and famous people: other some gathered toge∣ther in great nōber into the streetes where as they should passe through. The matrones, maids and children, filled y^e windowes and houses to behold and se••, and to maruel at their strange kinde of apparel, and stoute couragious coū∣tenāces, saying that it was not vntrue which was repor∣ted of them: notwithstanding all men behelde Procopius, saying, this is he which hath ouerthrowne the papistes in so many battels, which hathe subuerted so many townes, and slaine so many men, whom both his enemies and also his owne souldiours, do feare and reuerence: also, that hee was a bold, valiant and inuincible captaine, which coulde not be ouercome with no terrour, labour or trauaile.

These Bohemian Ambassadors were gently receyued. The next day after, Cardinall Iulianus sending for them vnto the councell house, made a gentle, long, and eloquent Oration vnto them, exhorting them to vnitie and peace, saying, that the church was the spouse of our sauior Christ, and the mother of all faithful, that it hath the keyes of bin∣ding and losing, and also that it is white and fair, without spot or wrinkle, and cā not erre in those poynts which are necessary to saluation, and that he which doeth contemne the same church, is to be coūted as a prophane, Ethnike, & publicane, neither can this church be represented better by any meanes then in this councel. Hee exhorteth them also to receiue the decrees of the councell, and to geue no lesse credite vnto the councell then vnto the Gospell, by whose authority, the scriptures themselues are receiued & allow∣ed. Also y^t the Bohemians which call them selues, the chil∣dren of the church, ought to heare y^e voice of their mother, which is neuer vnmindful of her children, how that nowe of late they haue liued apart from their mother, albeit (said hee) that is no newe or straunge thing, for there haue bene many in times past, which haue forsakē their mother, and yet seeking after saluation haue returned to her againe: That in the time of Noes floud, as many as were wyth∣out the arke perished: That the Lordes passeouer was to be eaten in one house: that there is no saluation to be sou∣ght for out of the church, and that this is the garden & fa∣mous fountaine of water, wherof whosoeuer shal drinke, shall not thirst euerlastingly: That the Bohemians haue done as they ought, in that they haue sought the foūtains of this water at the councel, and haue determined nowe at length to geue care vnto their mother. Nowe all hatred ought to cease, all armor and weapon is to be laid apart, & all occasion of warre vtterly to be reiected: For the fathers would louingly and gently heare whatsoeuer there they would say in their owne cause or quarell, requiring onely that they woulde willingly receiue and embrace the good counsels and determinations of the sacred synode: where∣unto not onely the Bohemians, but also all other faithfull Christians, ought to consent and agree, if they wil be par∣takers of eternall life.

This Oration of the Cardinal, was heard & very wel allowed of the fathers. Wherunto the Bohemians answe∣red in fewe woordes, that they neither had contemned the Church nor the councels: that the sentence geuen at Con∣stance against those which were vnheard, doeth diminishe nothing of the Christian religion: that the authoritie of the fathers hath alwaies remained amongst them inuiolate, and whatsoeuer thing the Bohemians had taught, to bee confirmed by the scriptures and Gospell, and that they are nowe come to manifest their innocencie before the whole Church, and to require open audience, where as the laitie may also be present. The request was graunted them: and being further demanded in what poynts they did disagree from the church of Rome, they propounded 4. Articles.

First, they affirmed, that all suche as woulde be saued, ought of necessitie to receiue the Communion of the laste supper vnder both kindes of bread and wine.

The second Article, they affirmed a••l ciuil rule and do∣minion to be forbidden vnto y^• Clergy by the law of God.

The thirde Article, that the preaching of the worde of God is free for all men, and in all places.

The fourth Article, as touching open crimes and of∣fences which are in no wise to be suffered for the ••••oiding of greater euill.

These were the onely propositions whyche they pro∣pounded before the Councell in the name of the whole re∣alme. Then another ambassador affirmed that he had hard of the Bohemians diuers and sundry thinges offensiue to Christian eares, amongst the which this was one poynte, that they should preach that the inuention of the order of begging Friers was diabolicall.

Then Procopius rising vppe, sayde, neither is it vn∣true, for if neyther Moises, neyther before hym the Patri∣arkes, neither after him the Prophets, neyther in the new lawe Christe and hys Apostles did institute the order of begging friers, who doth dout but that it was an inuenti∣on of the deuil, and a worke of darkenesse?

This answere of Procopius was derided of them all: And Cardinall Iulianus went about to prooue that not onely the decrees of the Patriarkes and Prophetes, and those things which Christ and his Apostles had instituted to be onely of God, but also all such decrees as the church shuld ordaine, being guided through the holy ghost, be the workes of God. All be it as he sayde, the order of begging Friers, might seeme to be taken out of some parte of the gospel. The Bohemians chose out 4. diuines which shuld declare their Articles to be taken out of the Scriptures. Likewise on the contrary part there was 4. appoynted by the councell. This disputation continued 50. dayes, where many thinges were alledged on either parte, whereof, as place shal serue, more hereafter (by the grace of Christ) shal be sayd, when we come to the time of that Councel.

In the meane season, while y^• Bohemians were thus in long conflicts wyth Sigismund the Emperour and the Pope, fighting for their religion, vnto whome, notw^tstan∣ding all the fulnesse of the Popes power was bent against them, God of his goodnesse had geuē such noble victories, as is aboue expressed, and euer did prosper them so lōg as they could agree among thēselues: as these things (I say) were doing in Boheme: King Henry the 5. fighting like∣wise in Fraunce, albeit for no like matters of religion, fell sicke at Boys, and died after he had raigned 9. yeres 5. mo∣neths 3. wekes and odde daies from his coronation. This king in his life and in all hys doings was so deuout & ser∣uiceable to the Pope and his chapleins, that he was called of many the Prince of priests: who left behind him a sonne being yet an infant 9. monthes and 15. dayes of age, whom he had by Quene Katherine daughter to the French king, married to him about 2. or 3. yeares before. The name of which Prince succeeding after his father, was Henry 6. lefte vnder the gouernement and protection of his vncle named Humfrey Duke of Gloucester.

¶ The names of the Archbishops of Canter∣bury in this fifte Booke conteined.

54	Simon Islepe.	17
56	Simon Langham.	2
57	William Witlesey.	5
58	Simon Sudbery.	6
59	William Courtney.	15
60	Thomas Arundel.	18
61	Henry Chichesly.	29

Notes

• Out of Ene as Siluius.
• Zischa getteth Pelzina.
• The queene sen∣deth for Sigis∣mund the Em∣peerour.
• The Emperours Ambassadours agree with the citizēs of Prage
• The citie of Prage fell from the Emperour.
• The complainte of the citie of Prage against Sigismund.
• The policie of Zisca.
• The citie of Thabor builded.
• Si••••smund get∣〈◊〉〈◊〉 the castle •••• Prage.
• Zisca getteth the citie of Prage.
• Prage besieged of Sigismund.
• The Marques of Misnia ouer∣come in the skirmish.
• Sigismund the Empe∣rour rayseth his siege.
• The Empe∣rour figh∣ting against Zisca, had the ouer∣throw.
• The Abbeis of Pelsina subuerted.
• Zisca put∣teth the Em∣perour to flight.
• Zisca loseth hys other eye in battel Zisca, albe∣it he lost his eyes, yet would not forsake his army. Zisca taketh diuers tow∣nes.
• The Saxons retyre.
• The Empe∣rour with his power entreth a∣gaine into Boheme.
• The Empe∣rour afrayde of Zisca, fly∣eth.
• The powch of Anti∣christ.
• A noble vi∣ctory of Zis∣ca.
• Zisca de∣stroyeth i∣mages and idols in Churches
• Ioanes Pre∣mostratensis
• The martir∣dome of cer∣tane godly Bohemians falsely circū∣uented and killed with sword. Priuie mur∣ther at length com∣meth out.
• Stench very ••••rtfull for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 teeth.
• An other warlike pol¦licy of Zischa. Straetage∣ma.
• Procopius Magnus.
• The valiant cou∣rage of Proco∣pius.
• The victorie of the protestantes.
• The battaile betweene the citie of Prage & Zisca.
• The noble victo¦ry of Zisca.
• Zisca besiegeth Prage.
• A notable ora∣tion of Zisca to his souldiours.
• The hartes of the souldiours altered by the oratiō of Zisca.
• Peace betweene Zisca and Prage by the meanes of Iohn de Ro∣chezana.
• The Emperour glad to be recō∣ciled with Zisca.
• The death of Zisca.
• The wordes of Zisca at his death.
• The Epitaphe of Zisca.
• Zisca eleuen times, victor in th••••••••elde.
• Pope Martins bloudy bull, to all Byshops and Archbishops.
• All these errours and heresies be, for that they speke against the pride of prelates and their exces∣siue digni∣ties.
• All be Pa∣gans with the Pope, that like not his supersti∣tious and idolatrous traditions.
• A great dif∣ference be∣tweene a ro∣uing mother and the fra∣tike whore of Babilon.
• We fooles thought their life to be madnes, and their ende with∣out honour. Sapiens. 5.
• Et os eius sicut os Le∣••nis. 1. And his mouth is like the mouth of a Lyon. Apoc. 13.
• Draconis lex saguine scripta.
• The popes religiō hath left all sence of humani∣t••e.
• Et vidi & bestiam & ••••ges terrae & excercitus corum pug∣nantes cum illo qui ••e∣ceoat in e∣quo, & ex∣ercitu eius. Apoc. 13. Et data est illi potestas in omnem t••ibum, et populum et linguam, & gentem.
• 1. And power is geuen him ones all tribes, and people and tongues, and nations, &c. Apoc. 13.
• Note the ten∣dernes of this louing mother the Church of Rome.
• Et facies om∣nes pun••••••s, et ••••••g••••, & di¦nites, et ••aupe∣res, et ic••uos, accipere charac∣terern in manu sua dextra. 1. And he shall make both little and great, riche and poore, free & bond to take his character in their right hand &c. Apoc. 13.
• Satan ratteleth his chaines.
• The olde maner of the popishe othe.
• Speaking of the inuisible church the article is true.
• This article see∣meth to be wras¦ted out of the wordes of Hie∣rome of Prage.
• The papa•••• dignit•••• tou¦c••••d.
• Iohn Hus expoundeth this article with this distinct. non ratione me∣riti, sed ra∣tione officii.
• Iohn Hus declareth his mind touching this article sufficiently before.
• Election maketh not the successor of Pet. but immitation.
• One head of the vni∣uersall church be∣side Christ hath no foundation in all scrip∣ture.
• The forme and maner of the popes inquisition.
• Heresie to p••ay for l. Wickliffe or ••••••lus. &c.
• Heresie not to beleeue the councell of Constāce
• Heresie to ••••••∣ster in both kindes.
• Heresie to deny the Popes in∣dulgences.
• Heresie not to worship images
• These Popes wil be sure to lose nothing.
• Wealthy wic∣kednes main∣tained.
• The pope ney∣ther preacheth himselfe, nor yet will suffer other good priests to preach
• Papa spirat mi∣nas & caedes.
• See here the Dragon ca∣sting out whole floudes to swalow vp the Sainte••.
• Pope Mar∣tin 5. contra∣ry to Pope Boniface 8.
• Pope Mar∣tyn vndoeth the a••is and edictes of al other popes.
• Note howe Antichrist rageth and ryleth a∣gainst christ
• Mans pow∣er and coun∣saile too weake a∣gainst christ
• An exhor∣tation of the Bohemians.
• The Pope and prelates by their let∣ters stirred them to flight.
• Faire words doe make fooles faine.
• The Pope seduceth the world with vaine promises of thinges, which he cannot geue
• The deuil & the Pope ••iche in pro∣••ising and poore in ge∣••••ng.
• Galat. 6.
• False pretenses, of the papistes.
• M. Hus & Hie∣rom by wrong∣ful violence put to death.
• Christ heard the deuill: b•• the pope wil not heare men confesse their fayth. 2. Esdras 3. Iohn 14. Iohn 8.
• A iust and ly reques•••• Bohemi••••
• Wherefore the popes clergie wil abide no cō∣ference with the laytie.
• The Popes pre∣tensed excuse detected.
• Rom. 1.
• Experience of Gods blessing where the pope hath cursed. Obiection.
• Aunswere.
• The popes false accusation an¦swered.
• Math. 15.
• The abuse of popishe religion in making priests Cardia•• ls &c.
• Actes. 8.
• The abuse of popishe religion, in taking orders.
• Popishe excom∣munication abused.
• 1. Cor. 16.
• The pope•• church poy∣soned with buying and selling their praying and singing, and all their do∣ing for mo∣ney.
• Feare of pur¦gatory hath robbed al∣most all the whole world.
• So long as priestes be rich, they will neuer be true tea∣chers.
• The subtil∣tie of the deuill in ma∣king the church rich. Eccle. 19.
• Popishe priests with their long & sumtuous gownes more like to the Pharises then Christ. 1. Tim. 3.
• Honor in well gouer∣ning.
• The popes church poy∣soned with couetousnes. Tim. 1.
• The popes church poy∣soned much with who••e dome.
• The Popes church and monasteries commonly poysoned with deue¦lishe enuie.
• The popes church poy∣soned with idlenes and belly cheare.
• The Popes church infa∣mous with notorious lies.
• The Popes church er∣reth in dimi∣nishing one part of the Sacrament.
• The Popes church char∣ged with partialitie.
• He meaneth of claiming tithes by mere necessi¦tie of the olde lawe: and not by the positiue law of prin∣ces.
• The Popes church charged with vsury.
• He meaneth the immo∣derate riches & tēpo all possessions.
• Mē appoin∣ted to preach may preach t••oagh the Pope forbid them.
• When the Pope holdeth his councell, let mē looke to their wiues & daugh∣ters where the councell is kept.
• Ex vetustissimo codice manu¦scripto.
• Great lamētatiō for Zisca.
• The army of Zisca deuided.
• The order and po••••cie that the armie of Zisca vsed in warre after his decease.
• Procopius Magnus.
• Sigismund the Emperor which burned Hus and Hierom before, now is fayne to entreat for hys kingdome.
• The death of I. Hus & Hierome reuenged.
• The Cardinall of Winchester sent into Ger∣many to rayse warre agaynst the Bohemians.
• Three armies set against the Bo∣hemians.
• God rescueth his people new∣ly conuerted.
• The popes army flyeth.
• Lyke captayne, lyke souldiour.
• Anno. 1421.
• The Pope ray∣seth warre the second time a∣gainst the Bo∣hemians.
• A newe warre raysed by the pope against the Bohemians.
• The number of the popes army against the Bo∣hemians.
• Cardinall Iulian with a maine host entreth Bo∣heme. The cruell slaughter done by the Cardinall.
• God stri∣keth a feare in the popes army.
• Rather for the religion of Antichrist This Cardi∣nall belike loued to preach ra∣ther in the campe thēin the church.
• The Cardi∣nals army ranne away for feare.
• Great slaughter in Boheme by Duke Al∣bert.
• The councel of Basill.
• A letter of the Empe∣rour to the Bohemians.
• The Bohe∣••ians sent for by the Councell. Safeconduct geuen to the Bohemians to come to the councell A doubt a∣mong the Bohemians, whether to goe to the councell of Basill or no. This May∣nardus was after a great backfriend to the faith∣ful Bohemi∣ans. 300. horse∣men of the Bohemians sent Ambas. to the coun∣cell. This english man was Peter Paine The recei∣uing of the Bohemians at Basill. Procopius famous a∣mong the Germaynes.
• The oration of Cardinall Iulian.
• The Bohemians aunswere to the Cardinals ora∣tion.
• The articles wherin the Bo∣hemians dissen∣ted from the church of Rome
• Certaine ap∣pointed by the Bohemians and the councell to dispute.
• The death of K. Henry 5. called prince of priests for fauouring the pope.